PJs Guide to The Severn Bore
The funnel-shape of the Bristol Channel is perfect for the formation of
tidal bores in the upper reaches of the Severn Estuary near Gloucester.
The high tide (especially spring tides) enter the river as a wall of water
called a bore. This then breaks like a wave against the banks or in the
shallow parts of the river.
Tidal bores also occur in the Petitcodiac River at the
northern end of the Bay of Fundy, in the Amazon River in Brazil, and in
the Fuchun Jiang in China (reported to have the biggest bore wave at around 15-20
feet) as well as some other European rivers
Where to watch or ride the bore
Newnham is the first stop to see the bore. As
the bore travels about 5 - 10 mph, after the bore has passed you have
plenty of time to drive to Minsterworth to see it pass there and then to
continue on. Probably the best place to view the bore is at Overbridge
where you can stand on the bridge and watch it travel under the bridge and
up river.
Riding the bore
As riding the bore is popular, you will find yourself jostling with a number
of canoeists, jet skis, inflatables and other surfers in the river while
waiting for the bore to arrive. Because the bore wave is slow and weak
catching it can be a problem even if you have a longboard.
If you do catch
it you will find yourself line abreast with the other lucky contenders
(between 6 and 10 people) moving forward. As the bore travels up river
around corners the wave surges from one bank to another and you need to be
where the concentration of the surge occurs to ride the bore any distance.
The ugly part of bore riding is after you lose the bore and you are being
towed along with all the debris (trees, plastic rubbish and dead animals!)
that gets sucked along behind. You have to approach the muddy bank (in the
10mph current) and grab a hold and pull yourself up on the bank - yuck,
yuck, yuck. But if you are quick you can run back to your truck, race up
the road and catch it again!
Maisemore is only of significance as there is
a weir which the bore cannot pass and so the bore ends here.
Severn Bore Times for 2004
The bore can come up to 30 minutes early or 30 minutes late depending on
weather conditions that day. Make sure you get there early, be alert and don't get caught out! - Only one wave...
| Month |
Date |
Day |
Newnham |
Severn Bore Pub |
Minsterworth |
Stonebench |
Over Bridge |
Tide (m) |
Sun Rise/Set |
Outlook |
| Feb |
21 |
Sat |
0747 |
0842 |
0847 |
0902 |
0922 |
12.6 |
0719 |
AA |
|
22 |
Sun |
0825 |
0920 |
0925 |
0940 |
1000 |
12.7 |
0717 |
AA |
| Mar |
21 |
Sun |
0726 |
0821 |
0826 |
0841 |
0901 |
12.5 |
0615 |
AA |
|
22 |
Mon |
0800 |
0855 |
0900 |
0915 |
0935 |
12.6 |
0613 |
AA |
| Apr |
6 |
Tue |
0835 |
0930 |
0935 |
0950 |
1010 |
12.9 |
0639 |
AAA |
|
7 |
Wed |
0912 |
1007 |
1012 |
1027 |
1047 |
13.0 |
0636 |
AAA |
|
8 |
Thu |
0951 |
1046 |
1051 |
1106 |
1126 |
12.9 |
0634 |
AA |
| May |
5 |
Wed |
0808 |
0903 |
0908 |
0923 |
0943 |
12.8 |
0539 |
AA |
|
6 |
Thu |
0850 |
0945 |
0950 |
1005 |
1025 |
12.9 |
0537 |
AAA |
| Aug |
31 |
Tue |
0844 |
0939 |
0944 |
0959 |
1019 |
12.6 |
0626 |
AA |
| Sep |
1 |
Wed |
0922 |
1017 |
1022 |
1037 |
1057 |
12.7 |
0628 |
AA |
|
29 |
Wed |
0821 |
0916 |
0921 |
0936 |
0956 |
12.6 |
0713 |
AA |
|
30 |
Thu |
0855 |
0950 |
0955 |
1010 |
1030 |
12.7 |
0715 |
AAA |
| Oct |
15 |
Fri |
0820 |
0915 |
0920 |
0935 |
0955 |
12.8 |
0740 |
AA |
|
16 |
Sat |
0906 |
1001 |
1006 |
1021 |
1041 |
12.9 |
0742 |
AAA |
All times are corrected for BST or GMT. Tide heights are for Swansea (our tide tables)
These are predicted to be the best bores for riding. Just because a bore is predicted does not mean it will arrive.
Weather conditions play a major part in the size of bore that comes up the river.
Unfortunately 2004 is not predicted to be a good year for bores.
AAA are predicted to be the best bores of 2004