SEVERN BORE

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.

The size of the waves are categorised by a star system (1 = small, 5 = large and very rare), with 3 and 4 star bores being well worth the effort to see.  Why not make a day and night of it by booking a stay at the Tudor Farmhouse to coincide with the forthcoming 3 and 4 star bores in August, September and October 2011:

August 30^th, 31^st, September 27^th, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th, October 27^th, 28^th, 29^th

Severn Bore this week!

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 ****

We did it!

And they are away....

Well we did it! Thanks to Gordon’s hard work the raft floated, and it was paddled down the river (which was moving very quickly) by Gordon, Kath, Colin, Meshell, Sarah and Tony. The plan was for the team to swap over half way down the river, but we had had so much rain that the river was quite high and moving far too quickly. We knew when we got to the halfway point that a swapover was not going to be possible, so unfortunately Cheryl, Blaine, Brook and Julia will have to wait until next year. The boat in front of ours actually capsized at Redbrook, where the changeover had been due to take place. Luckily no-one was hurt, but our team had a job avoiding hitting those that had gone overboard. We didn’t win any prizes but according to Kath that’s because there were no musical prizes on offer! Apparently they sang the whole way.

Everyone that went on the raft loved it and there is already talk of a staff canoe trip so that everyone can enjoy being on the river. Gordon is planning improvements to the raft for next year and I think we will have to field two rafts next year or at least build an extension to the current one. We hope it will become an annual event, and this year we expect to have raised more than £400 for St David’s Foundation Hospice Care. Our huge thanks to Gordon for building the raft, Kath for her organisation and Paul (Meshell’s husband) for organising the transportation of the raft. Here’s to next year!
You can still donate at:
www.justgiving.co.uk/tudortiddlers

Cheryl paints Kath's face before the race

Going past Redbrook and an overturned opponent

The Tudor Tiddlers

Monmouth Raft Race

Monmouth Raft Race Competitors

Monmouth Raft Race is in it’s 44th year, but it will be a first for us. The hotel has one raft racing this year, with 10 enthusiastic staff, including Colin, our deputy manager, Cheryl, and head chef, Blaine, competing. We can thank Kath, one of our chefs, for the idea. I’m not sure she envisaged a race when she suggested rafting as a good team building event! I’m not sure who to thank for the team name – the Tudor Tiddlers. I’m sure they will be visible for their t-shirts alone!

The race takes place on Sunday September 6th and is organised by the Monmouth Rotary Club. It starts at 12 noon at Monmouth Rowing Club and is paddled over 6.5 miles down the beautiful Wye Valley to Tump Farm at Whitebrook where there is entertainment and refreshments. (Please note that we will be shut for lunch on the day of the race.) All monies raised are split between St David’s Foundation Hospice Care (75%) and other charities supported by Monmouth Rotary Club (25%). St David’s Foundation Hospice Care is a Gwent based charity caring for patients who have been diagnosed with a life threatening illness. If you would like to sponsor us you can visit our fundraising page, where all of the money will go straight to St David’s Foundation Hospice Care:
www.justgiving.com/tudortiddlers

Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones

Griff Rhys Jones in Rivers

The Wye Valley was beautifully showcased on Sunday night on Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones. For those of you that do not know the area, you will be truly amazed at the scenery. You can still catch it on BBC i-player:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00m3z9l/Rivers_with_Griff_Rhys_Jones_West/