Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
4 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
5 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
6 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
7 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Arnside Arnside Bore

Arnside Bore

This rare aquatic phenomenon is one of the more accessible tidal bores in Morecambe Bay.

Arnside, England

Added By
Alan Newman
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Arnside Bore   Arnold Price
Arnside Bore   Arnold Price
Here the bore meets the resistance of Arnside Viaduct.   Arnold Price
The bore approaching Arnside Viaduct.   Karl and Ali
Arnside Bore   Chris Tomlinson
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The River Kent, which drains into Morecambe Bay along the northwestern coast of England, is one of several places where tidal bores can be viewed along the coastline. 

The Arnside bore is particularly convenient because it passes very close to the town of Arnside. It's a spectacular and beautiful sight depending on the tides and weather. Although not as large as the Severn bore or as destructive as the Trent Aegir bore, the Arnside bore attracts many visitors throughout the year. March through September are considered the best times of the year to view the phenomenon. It typically occurs two hours before high tide. 

Tidal bores take place when the tide rises so fast in an estuary that the flow of the river rapidly reverses, leading to a wave of water flowing against the normal flow of the river. Unlike bores found along much larger rivers, those found in Morecambe Bay often stream forward over areas of sand and mud.

Morecambe Bay is notorious for its rapidly flowing tides, and in certain sections, the tidal bores are said to travel faster than a galloping horse. In 2003, 23 Chinese cockle fishermen drowned in the bay when they were cut off by the rapidly rising tide. 

Related Tags

Rivers Nature Natural History Water

Know Before You Go

While in Arnside, it's also worth taking a look at the unusual railway viaduct with its strangely stepped brick piers. The bore can be "run" on a kayak if you have the proper equipment and experience. 

Community Contributors

Added By

Dr Alan P Newman

Edited By

jonathancarey

  • jonathancarey

Published

April 15, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Arnside Bore
8 The Promenade
Arnside, England, LA5 0HD
United Kingdom
54.203281, -2.833402
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Fairy Steps

Slack Head, England

miles away

Grange Lido

Grange-over-Sands, England

miles away

Hampsfell Hospice

Cumbria, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,199
Stories 144

Nearby Places

Fairy Steps

Slack Head, England

miles away

Grange Lido

Grange-over-Sands, England

miles away

Hampsfell Hospice

Cumbria, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,199
Stories 144

Related Places

  • The entrance to the crack

    Homosassa, Florida

    The Crack on the Chassahowitzka River

    A hidden paradise in one of Florida’s most unique rivers.

  • Three Sisters Springs is the only place in the United States where visitors can legally interact with wild manatees.

    Crystal River, Florida

    Three Sisters Springs

    This natural spring is the winter home to the largest gathering of manatees in the world.

  • Wilson Canyon

    Smith Valley, Nevada

    Wilson Canyon

    An improbable water gap where the West Walker River, paralleled by a state highway, crosses the Singatse Range between Smith and Mason Valleys.

  • Jusanji Pond in autumn

    Cheongsong, South Korea

    Jusanji Pond

    Trees emerge from the surface of this small man-made reservoir.

  • New Delhi, India

    Yamuna Ghat

    Ancient traditions and surreal birdwatching come into sharp relief along one of the world's most polluted rivers.

  • Pongo de Mainique.

    La Convención Province, Peru

    Pongo de Mainique

    A paradisical gorge with rapids, waterfalls, and wildlife whose raw beauty is the stuff of CGI movies.

  • Lonely tree reflected in turquoise blue water.

    Lijiang, China

    Blue Moon Valley

    A bright turquoise river cascades beautifully down stepped terraces in southern China.

  • Sculptured rocks.

    Hebron, New Hampshire

    Sculptured Rocks

    This narrow canyon has been carved by the river over thousands of years into spectacular and curious forms.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.