The bore only starts to show form as it runs up the west channel from Purton to Awre and rarely exceeds 30cm here. Take the left fork to the river in Awre village. There is roadside parking only and the land is private so permission should be sought. Follow the river bank downstream to the channel that cuts through the Noose and Frampton Sands. On a clear day, any sign of the bore is visible at Purton where the river's channel constricts.
TIPS: The bank can be very muddy down here and suitable boots are advisable. The Noose should be avoided at all costs with treacherous sinking mud.

With binoculars the bore can be seen over two miles away in the Fretherne channel. Below the Church itself is an unusual stretch of water where a bore of varying magnitudes occurs. The wave normally wraps its way around the sandbank, but impressive peaks may also occur midstream on shallow banks. Park in the side road off the A48 next to the church (right hand side on entering village). Take the footpath through the church and watch the bore from the fence where the bench is. In late summer this can become very overgrown and visibility may be poor. As an alternative, take the lane downhill and along the river, and you will come to the Newnham car park, with toilets, refreshments and a viewing telescope. Although visibility is partially blocked here by Newnham Nab.
TIPS: The presence or absence of local surfers can often be a good indicator of what to expect below the church itself.

An excellent viewing spot for the Newnham channel, and easily reachable, ahead of the bore, from Newnham Church. The wave in the channel generally varies between a half and one metre. The pub car park looks straight out onto the river, and in summer evening's this is a nice setting for refreshment. However, on all large tides, the channel is a popular start-off point for bore riders, and the water can get quite crowded. But they generally put on a show for the crowds.
TIPS: The width of the channel (narrow is good), and absence of water on the eastern side of the sand bank are good indicators for the size of the bore. Leave as soon as the bore has gone past to make it to the Strand.

The channels greatly determine the shape and size of the bore as viewed from Garden Cliff. The normal channel cutting through Pimlico sands disperses the energy of the tide, and several small waves form moving in different directions. However in a dry Autumn, this channel may close off so the bore travels straight up past the cliff. This can produce large powerful waves towards the eastern end of the cliff. There is space for several cars at the end of the road to the Strand, from where you can look straight downstream. For more impressive views walk 200m back down the road and take the footpath (on the right) to the top of the Cliff.
TIPS: Park you car for a quick getaway in order to make it to Rodley Sands in time.

The bore here washes over the large sandbank (normally taking several canoeists with it!). However it is normally visible downstream as broken white water, and it may be visible in the Priding's channel, although partially obstructed by the high sands. Park in the small layby next to Blue Boys Farm, and climb over the style and take the footpath down to the river. It can be very muddy if there has been a lot of rain.
TIPS: Take the footpath east and you will come to the river at Crown Point. Although the bore is small here, can be sheltered from wind and glassy.

This is the first opportunity to see the bore in the actual river. From the Severn Bore Inn, the A48 runs alongside the river for about 2km. There are several places for viewing the bore. We have not given an exact location here since on the large tides (especially weekends) the road and parking can become very congested. Also popular with bore riders and over a hundred people were seen in the water at one time in 1997! If you arrive early enough, a good wave can sometimes be seen 200m down the footpath from the Inn. The straight that runs to the old Ferry (ETA HT at Sharpness), before the dual carriageway, has deep channels and the bore usually only surges along the banks here.
TIPS: If very busy, depart early to get ahead of the traffic to make it to Over Bridge. If quite, there is time to spare, and a great value for money burger stand in the laybe to Denny Hill.

Beyond Minsterworth the river meanders away from the A48, leaving Over Bridge as the next viewing spot. Again this can be extremely busy and many cars are forced to park on the central reservation. The bore always looks impressive as it appears in view hugging the east bank below the Parting, but generally it is fairly small in the channel up towards the bridge. Can be entertaining to watch numerous bore riders collide in an attempt to catch the wave! Go around the roundabout and come back on yourself and park anywhere possible by the bridge. If it is quiet just park in the layby. Then walk up onto the old bridge.
TIPS: If you have plenty of time to wait, walk down the footpath along the east bank to the Parting where it is possible to see further downstream. Lock your car, because thieves lurk under the bridge!

Be prepared to run if you want to make the final spot at Maisemore Bridge. Park at Over as advised below, and on reaching Maisemore, turn right before bridge and park in layby. The wave can be good downstream from the bridge, and is generally sheltered from winds with a glassy lustre. It is also possible to see upstream to the weir, where the bore is halted in its tracks. This is also an excellent place to watch a big tide under a full moon.
TIPS: To make Maisemore in time, turn left at the roundabout, park in the layby 100m along the road on left and walk back to Over Bridge.