Misty mornings and sunny days in the Cotswolds

October arrives quietly in the Cotswolds. Mornings turn cool and misty, though a warm afternoon is usually waiting behind them. It's exactly the kind of weather that makes an October cottage feel like the obvious choice, when slow starts and long walks are all you really want from a holiday.

The countryside puts on its best show this month. Beech and oak turn from green to copper along the ridgeways, and the hedgerows fill with berries. Batsford Arboretum, near Moreton-in-Marsh, holds the largest private collection of rare trees in the country and even publishes a leaf colour scale so you can time your visit for the height of the display. Westonbirt, close to Tetbury, offers the same spectacle on a grander scale, with trails winding through some of the oldest and rarest trees in Europe. And Wychwood Forest, a short drive from Charlbury, is ancient woodland at its quietest and most atmospheric.

If half term falls during your stay, the Cotswolds has plenty to keep young explorers entertained too, from farm parks to pumpkin picking. Take a look at our dedicated October half term collection for cottages suited to the whole family.

As the evenings draw in, the pace changes. Many of our cottages in October come with a fire already laid, so there's little to do but pour a glass of something warming and leave the boots by the door.

Towards the end of the month, Halloween adds a bit of mischief to proceedings. Several of our villages mark it with trails, markets and the occasional pumpkin-carving contest, so it's worth checking what's on locally before you book.

Whether you're after a romantic weekend away, a walk with the dog, or simply a change of scenery before winter sets in, October is one of the loveliest times to visit. Take a look at our October cottages below and start planning your own escape.