What is Dartmoor mountain weather like in October?

Typical mountain and low-level wind, temperature, rainfall and sunshine for October.

40-year mountain climate

Typical high-ground conditions in October.

Historically, October has been one of the more promising parts of the year for high-ground days. Of 1,240 representative high-ground days, 51% were settled for rain and wind, 39% were mixed, and 10% were poor or severe for rain and wind.

Dry days accounted for 55% of the sample. Across the whole year, the settled-day share is 54%, with around 154 wet days, so a region's strongest month should not be mistaken for its usual climate. As a separate check, the Met Office 1991–2020 average at North Wyke is 103 hours of bright sunshine during October. Cloud and views are deliberately kept out of the settled-day score because they vary sharply between individual summits; check the live forecast nearer the trip. These figures describe representative high ground around 621 metres, so coastal and low-level conditions can be milder.

East Hook Holiday Cottages - Clover Cottage for a October trip to Dartmoor
October stays on Dartmoor

East Hook Holiday Cottages - Clover Cottage

Okehampton · Sleeps 7

Indicative catalogue price £513 for 7 nightsExact October prices and availability are checked after you choose a week.
Settled rain and wind51%Historically dry55%High-ground temperature8.3°CTypical maximum gust28 mphStronger days around 37 mphMet Office sunshine context103 hrsAverage bright sunshine in October, 1991–2020 · North Wyke
Plan beyond the forecast

Choose an area and week.

Saturday dates are highlighted because they usually unlock the widest choice of seven-night cottage stays. Other arrival days still work.

Typical conditions, not a forecastThis describes representative high ground. A difficult hill day can still be suitable for a lower-level plan.
Week 41 · 10 October

What this week is typically like on Dartmoor high ground.

Across 280 comparable historical hill days, 61% were settled for rain and wind and 6% were poor or severe for rain and wind.

Check the live Dartmoor forecast →
Settled rain and wind61%280 comparable days
Dry and light wind35%Dry, manageable wind26%Mixed33%Poor5%Severe1%
Historically dry65% of daysTypical daily max gust25 mphStronger days around 33 mphTypical high ground8.7°C24-hour mean near 621 mPoor or severe rain/wind6% of daysViews are checked separately in the live forecast

October context: 51% of days across the month were settled for rain and wind; 10% were poor or severe for rain and wind. Read the full October guide.

Valley and low level for this week

Around Okehampton.

Representative base · 170 m
Typical daily high14.5°CWarmer days 16.3°CHistorically dry65%62% dry with lighter windMaximum wind12 mphStronger days 16 mphTypical overnight low8.8°CCooler nights 6.0°C
Planning a different time of year?Compare Dartmoor month by month
Valleys and trip bases

Low-level weather around Okehampton in October.

Okehampton, at roughly 170 metres, provides a practical low-level reference for Dartmoor. Across 1,240 historical days, the typical daytime high was 14.0°C, with warmer days around 15.8°C.

About 55% of days were dry and 51% combined dry weather with lighter winds. Conditions vary across glens, coasts and villages, so this should be used as regional trip-planning guidance rather than a forecast for every location.

Typical daily high14.0°CWarmer days around 15.8°CTypical overnight low8.5°CCooler nights around 5.7°CHistorically dry55%10% had 10 mm+ rainTypical maximum wind14 mphStronger days around 18 mph
January to December

Dartmoor weather by month.

Each month has a detailed guide comparing high-ground hill days with typical conditions at a representative valley or low-level trip base.

January49% settled rain/wind
High ground: 34% mixed · 17% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 56% dry · 8.1°C daily high
February48% settled rain/wind
High ground: 36% mixed · 16% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 58% dry · 8.3°C daily high
March52% settled rain/wind
High ground: 37% mixed · 11% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 60% dry · 9.9°C daily high
April54% settled rain/wind
High ground: 40% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 59% dry · 11.7°C daily high
May57% settled rain/wind
High ground: 37% mixed · 6% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 60% dry · 14.7°C daily high
June58% settled rain/wind
High ground: 38% mixed · 4% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 61% dry · 17.1°C daily high
July60% settled rain/wind
High ground: 36% mixed · 4% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 62% dry · 18.7°C daily high
August60% settled rain/wind
High ground: 36% mixed · 4% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 62% dry · 18.7°C daily high
September61% settled rain/wind
High ground: 34% mixed · 5% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 63% dry · 16.9°C daily high
October51% settled rain/wind
High ground: 39% mixed · 10% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 55% dry · 14.0°C daily high
November50% settled rain/wind
High ground: 38% mixed · 12% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 54% dry · 10.6°C daily high
December49% settled rain/wind
High ground: 33% mixed · 18% poor or severe for rain/windOkehampton: 56% dry · 8.7°C daily high
20 mountain areas

Compare another part of the UK.

The comparison uses the whole year, rather than putting each region's single best month beside another's typical conditions.

Angus GlensScotland · about 184 wet days · 1,047 mm rain · 1,411 sunshine hrs41% settled annually Argyll and Loch LomondScotland · about 213 wet days · 1,933 mm rain · 1,179 sunshine hrs39% settled annually Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)Wales · about 170 wet days · 1,161 mm rain · 1,422 sunshine hrs50% settled annually CairngormsScotland · about 197 wet days · 1,135 mm rain · 1,209 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Clwydian Range and BerwynsWales · about 175 wet days · 1,054 mm rain · 1,573 sunshine hrs48% settled annually DartmoorEngland · about 154 wet days · 942 mm rain · 1,494 sunshine hrs54% settled annually Eryri (Snowdonia)Wales · about 195 wet days · 1,355 mm rain · 1,458 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lake DistrictEngland · about 194 wet days · 1,447 mm rain · 1,225 sunshine hrs43% settled annually Lewis and HarrisScotland · about 206 wet days · 1,204 mm rain · 1,256 sunshine hrs37% settled annually LochaberScotland · about 218 wet days · 1,931 mm rain · 1,005 sunshine hrs38% settled annually Mid Wales and Cambrian MountainsWales · about 180 wet days · 1,159 mm rain · 1,279 sunshine hrs48% settled annually Monadhliath and Creag MeagaidhScotland · about 202 wet days · 1,307 mm rain · 1,091 sunshine hrs41% settled annually North PenninesEngland · about 178 wet days · 1,037 mm rain · 1,421 sunshine hrs47% settled annually Northumberland and CheviotsEngland · about 152 wet days · 761 mm rain · 1,535 sunshine hrs50% settled annually Northwest HighlandsScotland · about 231 wet days · 1,860 mm rain · 1,044 sunshine hrs33% settled annually Peak DistrictEngland · about 164 wet days · 916 mm rain · 1,383 sunshine hrs49% settled annually Perthshire HighlandsScotland · about 198 wet days · 1,483 mm rain · 1,142 sunshine hrs43% settled annually SkyeScotland · about 230 wet days · 2,031 mm rain · 1,200 sunshine hrs36% settled annually Southern ScotlandScotland · about 203 wet days · 1,368 mm rain · 1,215 sunshine hrs42% settled annually Yorkshire DalesEngland · about 183 wet days · 1,219 mm rain · 1,154 sunshine hrs46% settled annually