The Severn Bore is a tidal wave which works its way up the Severn Estuary over 25 miles between Awre and Gloucester.
It attracts thousands of spectators, and scores of surfers along its course.
Caused by the tide from the Atlantic Ocean entering the Bristol Channel and forcing its way into the Severn Estuary, the bore filters into a narrow channel and the water to rises by anything up to 15 metres. The water reaches speeds of up to 20kmph as it nears Minsterworth and, as the width of the River Severn narrows, becomes held up causing the natural bore phenomenon.
The Severn Bore in particular is revered because the River Severn has the second largest tidal range in the world, making for a bore which can be anything up to 2 metres in height, and is one of only three surfable tidal waves in the world. Subsequently the powerful bores often see surfers take to the water in a brave feat, hoping to catch the wave at the right time and smash the surfing record which began in 1955.
You can watch The Severn Bore at numerous locations along the River Severn, but the best vantage points are located at Minsterworth, Stonebench and Over Bridge.
Large bores with a tidal range of 4.9 to 5 metres are denoted by three stars; very large bores with a tidal range of 5.1 to 5.3 metres are denoted by four stars, while the rarest five-star bores have a tidal range above 5.4 metres.
Monday 1 March 2010
Minsterworth 8.15am, Stonebench 8.25am & Over Bridge 8.50am ****
Minsterworth 8.42pm, Stonebench 8.52pm & Over Bridge 9.17pm ****
Tuesday 2 March 2010
Minsterworth 8.56am, Stonebench 9.06am & Over Bridge 9.31am *****
Minsterworth 9.22pm, Stonebench 9.32pm & Over Bridge 9.57pm ****
Wednesday 3 March 2010
Minsterworth 9.38am, Stonebench 9.48am & Over Bridge 10.13am ****
Minsterworth 10.03pm, Stonebench 10.13pm & Over Bridge 10.38pm ***
Thursday 4 March 2010
Minsterworth 10.20am, Stonebench 10.30am & Over Bridge 10.55am ***
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Minsterworth 8.54am, Stonebench 9.04am & Over Bridge 9.29am ***
Minsterworth 9.19pm, Stonebench 9.29pm & Over Bridge 9.54pm ***
Wednesday 31 March 2010
Minsterworth 9.35am, Stonebench 9.45am & Over Bridge 10.10am ****
Minsterworth 9.59pm, Stonebench 9.09pm & Over Bridge 9.34pm ***
Thursday 1 April 2010
Minsterworth 10.17am, Stonebench 10.27am & Over Bridge 10.52am ***
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Minsterworth 9.55pm, Stonebench 10.05pm & Over Bridge 10.30pm ***
Thursday 12 August 2010
Minsterworth 10.25am, Stonebench 10.35am & Over Bridge 11am ***
Minsterworth 10.38pm, Stonebench 10.48pm & Over Bridge 11.13pm ****
Friday 13 August 2010
Minsterworth 11.22pam, Stonebench 11.32pm & Over Bridge 11.57pm ***
Wednesday 8 September 2010
Minsterworth 8.49pm, Stonebench 8.59pm & Over Bridge 9.24pm ***
Thursday 9 September 2010
Minsterworth 9.17am, Stonebench 9.27am & Over Bridge 9.52am ***
Minsterworth 9.31pm, Stonebench 9.41pm & Over Bridge 10.06pm ****
Friday 10 September 2010
Minsterworth 9.58am, Stonebench 10.08am & Over Bridge 10.33am ****
Minsterworth 10.14pm, Stonebench 10.24pm & Over Bridge 10.49pm ****
Saturday 11 September 2010
Minsterworth 10.41am, Stonebench 10.51am & Over Bridge 11.16am ***
Minsterworth 10.58pm, Stonebench 11.08pm & Over Bridge 11.33pm ***
Thursday 7 October 2010
Minsterworth 8.27pm, Stonebench 8.37pm & Over Bridge 9.02pm ***
Friday 8 October 2010
Minsterworth 8.52am, Stonebench 9.02am & Over Bridge 9.27am ***
Minsterworth 9.08pm, Stonebench 9.18pm & Over Bridge 9.43pm ****
Saturday 9 October 2010
Minsterworth 9.33am, Stonebench 9.43am & Over Bridge 10.08am ***
Minsterworth 9.52pm, Stonebench 10.02pm & Over Bridge 10.27pm ****
The Severn Bore is a spectacular naturally occurring tidal wave which forms as the rising tide forces a large volume of water through a narrowing river channel with a rising river bed. The Severn Estuary has the second highest tidal range the world and produces one of the biggest bores. With an average speed of 16km per hour the wave can reach two metres in height making it a major attraction for both sight seers and surfers.
