Getting to Mount Saint Michel from Bayeux or Caen

Yes, we took the train from Bayeux and then the connecting bus a few years ago. It worked out well. But we only travel by train, not car.

Renting a car likely would be more expensive but would save you a bit of time. It also gives you flexibility -- there are a lot of sights in the area you won't see from a train.

Between Bayeux and Saint-Lô is the réserve naturelle nationale de la forêt domaniale de Cerisy, which could be quite pretty in the autumn, depending on when in October you're traveling. also in the forest are the 17th century Château de Balleroy and the 7th century Abbaye Saint-Vigor and its gardens.

The château has nice gardens and, of all things, a museum and small cinema room (in French and English) focused on the history of hot air balloons (in French: montgolfiers, named after the Montgolfier brothers who invented and designed the hot air balloon familiar today). Oddly enough, the château has been under ownership by Americans since the 1970s, initially by Malcolm Forbes, who had an interest in hot air balloons and created the museum.

One problem with traveling on Monday is that many restaurants are closed that day. Of course, there's always that internationally known restaurant with golden arches and they're open Mondays: they have outlets in Bayeux, Saint-Lô, Avranches, and just outside Pontorson.

Thank you for your guidance. I forgot to add that we are staying overnight on Mount Saint Michel and leaving the next day.