Bristol Channel

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Map of the Bristol Channel

Sunrise looking north east up the channel from Minehead, showing Steep Holm and
Brean Down
The Bristol Channel (Welsh: Môr Hafren) is a major inlet in the island of Great
Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It
extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn (Welsh: Afon Hafren) to the
North Atlantic Ocean. It takes its name from the English city of Bristol, and is
over 30 miles (50 km) across at its widest point.

Long stretches of the coastline of the Bristol Channel, on both the South Wales and
West Country sides, are designated as Heritage Coast, including Exmoor, Bideford
Bay, the Hartland Point peninsula, Lundy Island, Glamorgan, Gower Peninsula, South
Pembrokeshire and Caldey Island.

Until Tudor times the Bristol Channel was known as the Severn Sea, and it is still
known as this in both Welsh: Môr Hafren and Cornish: Mor Havren.[1]

Contents [hide]
1 Geography
2 Ecology
3 Coastal cities and towns
4 Navigation
4.1 Paddle steamers
4.2 Marine rescue services
5 Renewable energy
6 1607 flood
7 Religion
8 Recreation
8.1 Surfing
8.2 Windsurfing across the channel
8.3 Walking
8.4 Swimming records
8.4.1 First person to swim across the Bristol Channel
8.4.2 Youngest person to swim across the Bristol Channel
8.4.3 Ilfracombe to Swansea
8.4.4 Penarth to Clevedon
9 References
Geography[edit]
The International Hydrographic Organisation now defines the western limit of the
Bristol Channel as "a line joining Hartland Point in Devon (51°01′N 4°32′W) to St.
Govan's Head in Pembrokeshire (51°36′N 4°55′W)". The IHO previously put the western
limit at a line from Trevose Head in Cornwall to Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire, in
an area now considered part of the Celtic Sea.[2]

The upper limit of the Channel is between Sand Point, Somerset (immediately north
of Weston-super-Mare) and Lavernock Point (immediately south of Penarth in South
Wales). East of this line is the Severn Estuary. Western and northern
Pembrokeshire, and north Cornwall are outside the defined limits of the Bristol
Channel, and are considered part of the seaboard of the Atlantic Ocean, more
specifically the Celtic Sea.

Within its officially defined limits, the Bristol Channel extends for some 75 miles
(121 km) from west to east, but taken as a single entity the Bristol Channel -
Severn Estuary system extends eastward to the limit of tidal influence near
Gloucester. The channel shoreline alternates between resistant and erosional cliff
features, interspersed with depositional beaches backed by coastal sand dunes; in
the Severn Estuary, a low-lying shoreline is fronted by extensive intertidal
mudflats.[3] The Severn Estuary and most of the embayments around the channel are
less than 10 m in depth. Within the channel, however, there is an E-W trending
valley 20 to 30 m in depth that is considered to have been formed by fluvial run-
off during Pleistocene phases of lower sea level.[4] Along the margins of the
Bristol Channel are extensive linear tidal sandbanks that are actively dredged as a
source of aggregates and in the Outer Bristol Channel off the Welsh coast are the
OBel Sands, an extensive area of sand waves up to 19 m high, covering an area of
over 1,000 km².[5]

Ecology[edit]

The channel as seen from Barry, Wales

The Bristol Channel coast at Ilfracombe, North Devon, looking west towards Lee Bay
The Bristol Channel is an important area for wildlife, in particular waders, and
has protected areas, including national nature reserves such as Bridgwater Bay at
the mouth of the River Parrett. At low tide large parts of the channel become mud
flats due to the tidal range of 43 feet (13 m),[6] second only to the Bay of Fundy
in Eastern Canada.[7][8] Development schemes have been proposed along the channel,
including an airport and a tidal barrier for electricity generation, but
conservation issues have so far managed to block such schemes.

The largest islands in the Bristol Channel are Lundy, Steep Holm and Flat Holm. The
islands and headlands provide some shelter for the upper reaches of the channel
from storms. These islands are mostly uninhabited and protected as nature reserves,
and are home to some unique wild flower species. In 1971 a proposal was made by the
Lundy Field Society to establish a marine reserve. Provision for the establishment
of statutory Marine Nature Reserves was included in the Wildlife and Countryside
Act 1981, and on 21 November 1986 the Secretary of State for the Environment
announced the designation of a statutory reserve at Lundy.[9] There is an
outstanding variety of marine habitats and wildlife, and a large number of rare and
unusual species in the waters around Lundy, including some species of seaweed,
branching sponges, sea fans and cup corals.[10]

The Bristol Channel has some extensive and popular beaches and spectacular scenery,
particularly on the coasts of Exmoor and Bideford Bay in North Devon and the Vale
of Glamorgan and Gower Peninsula on the Glamorgan coast. The western stretch of
Exmoor boasts Hangman cliffs, the highest cliffs in mainland Britain, culminating
near Combe Martin in the "Great Hangman", a 1,043 ft (318 m) 'hog-backed' hill with
a cliff-face of 820 ft (250 m); its sister cliff the "Little Hangman" has a cliff-
face of 716 ft (218 m). On the Gower Peninsula, at its western extremity is the
Worms Head, a headland of carboniferous limestone which is approachable on foot at
low tide only. The beaches of Gower (at Rhossili, for example) and North Devon,
such as Croyde and Woolacombe, win awards for their water quality and setting, as
well as being renowned for surfing. In 2004, The Times "Travel" magazine selected
Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire as one of the twelve best beaches in the world. In
2007, Oxwich Bay made the same magazine's Top 12 best beaches in the world list,
and was also selected as Britain's best beach for 2007.

Coastal cities and towns[edit]

The Bristol Channel looking south from Llantwit Major near Barry on the Glamorgan
coast

Satellite view of the Bristol Channel

The city of Swansea is the largest settlement on the Welsh coast of the Bristol
Channel. Other major built-up areas include Barry (including Barry Island), Port
Talbot and Llanelli. Smaller resort towns include Porthcawl, Mumbles, Saundersfoot
and Tenby. The cities of Cardiff and Newport adjoin the Severn estuary, but lie
upstream of the Bristol Channel itself.

On the English side, the resort towns of Weston-super-Mare, Burnham-on-Sea,

Watchet, Minehead and Ilfracombe are located on the Bristol Channel. Barnstaple and
Bideford are sited on estuaries opening onto Bideford Bay, at the westernmost end
of the Bristol Channel. Just upstream of the official eastern limit of the Channel,
adjoining the Severn estuary, is the city of Bristol, originally established on the
River Avon but now with docks on the Severn estuary, which is one of the most
important ports in Britain. It gives its name to the Channel, which forms its
seaward approach.

Navigation[edit]
There are no road or rail crossings of the Bristol Channel so direct crossings are
necessarily made by sea or air, or less directly by the road and rail crossings of
the Severn estuary. The Channel can be a hazardous area of water because of its
strong tides and the rarity of havens on the north Devon and Somerset coasts that
can be entered in all states of the tide. Because of the treacherous waters,
pilotage is an essential service for shipping. A specialised style of sailing boat,
the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter, developed in the area.

Paddle steamers[edit]
P and A Campbell of Bristol were the main operators of pleasure craft, particularly
paddle steamers, from the mid-19th century to the late 1970s, together with the
Barry Railway Company. These served harbours along both coasts, such as Ilfracombe
and Weston-super-Mare.

This tradition is continued each summer by the PS Waverley, the last seagoing
paddle steamer in the world, built in 1947. The steamer provides pleasure trips
between the Welsh and English coasts and to the islands of the channel. Trips are
also offered on the MV Balmoral, also owned by Waverley Excursions.

Marine rescue services[edit]

The Burnham-on-Sea Area Rescue Boat (BARB)[2] uses a hovercraft to rescue people
from the treacherous mud flats on that part of the coast. A hovercraft was recently
tested to determine the feasibility of setting up a similar rescue service in
Weston-super-Mare. There are also RNLI lifeboats stationed along both sides of the
Channel. In the Severn Estuary, in-shore rescue is provided by two independent
lifeboat trusts, the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) and the Portishead and
Bristol Lifeboat Trust.[11]

Renewable energy[edit]
Main article: Severn Barrage
The Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary have the potential to generate more
renewable electricity than all other UK estuaries. It has been stated that, if
harnessed, it could create up to 5% of the UK’s electricity, contributing
significantly to UK climate change goals and European Union renewable energy
targets. Earlier studies of a possible Severn Barrage included estimates of bed
load transport of sand and gravel by tidal ebb and flood that would be interrupted
if a solid dam were built across the Channel.[12] More recently, the Severn Tidal
Power Feasibility Study was launched in 2008 by the British Government to assess
all tidal range technologies, including barrages, lagoons and others.[13] The study
will look at the costs, benefits and impacts of a Severn tidal power scheme and
will help Government decide whether it could or could not support such a scheme.
Some of the options being looked at may include a road crossing downstream of the
existing crossings of the estuary.
1607 flood[edit]
Main article: Bristol Channel floods, 1607
On 30 January 1607 (New style) thousands of people were drowned, houses and
villages swept away, farmland inundated and flocks destroyed when a flood hit the
shores of the Channel. The devastation was particularly bad on the Welsh side, from
Laugharne in Carmarthenshire to above Chepstow on the English border. Cardiff was
the most badly affected town. There remain plaques up to 8 ft (2.4 m) above sea
level to show how high the waters rose on the sides of the surviving churches. It
was commemorated in a contemporary pamphlet "God's warning to the people of England
by the great overflowing of the waters or floods."

The cause of the flood is uncertain and disputed. It had long been believed that
the floods were caused by a combination of meteorological extremes and tidal peaks,
but research published in 2002 showed some evidence of a tsunami in the Channel.
[14] Although some evidence from the time describes events similar to a tsunami,
there are also similarities to descriptions of the 1953 floods in East Anglia,
which were caused by a storm surge. It has been shown that the tide and weather at
the time were capable of generating such a surge.[15]

Religion[edit]
In 1835 John Ashley was on the shore at Clevedon with his son who asked him how the
people on Flat Holm could go to church. For the next three months Ashley
voluntarily ministered to the population of the island. From there he recognised
the needs of the seafarers on the four hundred sailing vessels in the Bristol
Channel and created the Bristol Channel Mission. He raised funds and in 1839 a
specially designed mission cutter was built with a main cabin which could be
converted into a chapel for 100 people, this later became first initiative of the
Mission to Seafarers.[16]

Recreation[edit]
Surfing[edit]
Much of the coastline at the western end of the Bristol Channel faces west towards
the Atlantic Ocean meaning that a combination of an off-shore (east) wind and a
generous Atlantic swell produces excellent surf along the beaches. The heritage
coasts of the Vale of Glamorgan, Bideford Bay and Gower are, along with the
Atlantic coasts of Pembrokeshire and Cornwall, the key areas for surfing in the
whole of Britain. Although slightly overshadowed by the Atlantic coasts of North
Cornwall and West Pembrokeshire, both Gower and Bideford Bay nevertheless have
several superb breaks—notably Croyde in Bideford Bay and Langland Bay on Gower—and
surfing in Gower and Bideford Bay is enhanced by the golden beaches, clean blue
waters, excellent water quality and good facilities close by to the main surf
breaks.

Windsurfing across the channel[edit]

The first known crossing of the Bristol Channel (from Swansea to Woody Bay, near
Lynton, Devon) by a windsurfer was Adam Cowles in April 2006,[17] apparently
accidentally. Other windsurfers have reported making the crossing as a training
exercise (Hugh Sim Williams[18]) or as part of a windsurf around Britain (e.g. Jono
Dunnett [19]). The coastguard has stated that windsurf crossings of the channel are
dangerous and should not be attempted without appropriate preparations.[17]

Walking[edit]
The high quality of the landscape of much of both coasts of the Bristol Channel
means that they are popular destinations for walkers. Sections of two national
trails; the South West Coast Path and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path follow these
shores, and the West Somerset Coast Path extends eastwards from the South West
Coast Path to the mouth of the River Parrett. A continuous coastal path, the Wales
Coast Path, was opened in May 2012 along the entire Welsh shore under the auspices
of the Countryside Council for Wales.

Swimming records[edit]
First person to swim across the Bristol Channel[edit]
The first person to swim across the Bristol Channel was Kathleen Thomas, a 21-year-
old woman from Penarth who swam to Weston-super-Mare on 5 September 1927.[20] She
completed the swim, nominally 11 miles but equivalent to 22 miles because of tidal
flows, in 7 hours 20 minutes. In 2007 the achievement was marked by a plaque in
seafront in Penarth.[21]

Youngest person to swim across the Bristol Channel[edit]

In 1929 Edith Parnell, a 16-year-old schoolgirl, emulated Kathleen Thomas's swim
from Penarth to Weston-super-Mare in 10 hours 15 minutes.[20] Edith later became
the first wife of Hugh Cudlipp the Welsh journalist and newspaper editor.[21][22]

Ilfracombe to Swansea[edit]
The first person to swim the 30.5 nautical miles (56.5 km; 35.1 mi) from Ilfracombe
to Swansea was Gethin Jones, who achieved the record on 13 September 2009, taking
nearly 22 hours.[23]

Penarth to Clevedon[edit]
The youngest person to swim the Bristol Channel from Penarth to Clevedon is Gary
Carpenter who at age 17 on August bank holiday 2007, swam the channel in 5 hours 35
minutes making him the youngest and fastest swimmer of the Bristol Channel. Gary
Carpenter's coach Steve Price was the first ever person to swim from Penarth to
Clevedon back in 1990.[24]

References[edit]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Bristol Channel.
Jump up ^ The sixteenth-century geographer, Roger Barlow, defined the ‘see called
severne’ as all those waters east of the Scilly Isles ‘betwene the principlitie of
wales and englande’: E. G. R. Taylor (ed.), A Brief Summe of Geographie, by Roger
Barlow (Abingdon, 2016), p. 32.
Jump up ^ "Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition + corrections" (PDF).
International Hydrographic Organization. 1971. p. 42 [corrections to page 13].
Retrieved 6 February 2010.
Jump up ^ Steers, J.A., 1964. The Coastline of England and Wales. Cambridge Univ.
Press, Cambridge, 750 pp.
Jump up ^ Collins, M.B., 1987. Sediment transport in the Bristol Channel: a review.
Proceedings of the Geological Association 98, 367-383.
Jump up ^ James, J.W.C., Mackie, A.S.Y., Rees, E.I.S., Darbyshire, T., 2012. Ch.
12: Sand wave field: The OBel Sands, Bristol Channel, U.K. , in: Harris, P.T.,
Baker, E.K. (Eds.), Seafloor geomorphology as benthic habitat: GeoHAB Atlas of
seafloor geomorphic features and benthic habitats. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 227-
240.
Jump up ^ "Severn Estuary Barrage". UK Environment Agency. 31 May 2006. Archived
from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
Jump up ^ Chan, Marjorie A.; Archer, Allen William (2003). Extreme Depositional
Environments: Mega End Members in Geologic Time. Boulder, Colorado: Geological
Society of America. p. 151. ISBN 0-8137-2370-1.
Jump up ^ "Coast: Bristol Channel". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
Jump up ^ "Lundy Island Marine Nature Reserve". Lundy.org. Archived from the
original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 5 September 2007.
Jump up ^ "Lundy Marine Conservation Zone". Lundy Field Society. Retrieved 5 August
2017.
Jump up ^ Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat Trust
Jump up ^ Harris, P.T., Collins, M.B., 1988. Estimation of annual bedload flux in a
macrotidal estuary, Bristol Channel, U. K. Marine Geology 83, 237-252.
Jump up ^ "Severn Tidal Power" (PDF). Welsh Assembly Government. Retrieved 19
November 2016.
Jump up ^ Haslett, Simon K.; Edward A. Bryant (2004). "The AD 1607 coastal flood in
the bristol channel and severn estuary: historical records from Devon and Cornwall
(UK)". Archaeology in the Severn Estuary. 15: 81–89.
Jump up ^ Horsburgh, K.J. and M. Horritt (2006) The Bristol Channel floods of 1607
– reconstruction and analysis. Weather, 61(10), 272-277.
Jump up ^ Farr, Grahame (1954). Somerset Harbours. London: Christopher Johnson. p.
49.
^ Jump up to: a b BBC News - Windsurfer's accidental crossing
Jump up ^ Bristol University Press Release 2006
Jump up ^ Jono Dunnett windsurfroundbritain.co.uk
^ Jump up to: a b Martha De Lacey (5 February 2013). "'Mere women' who did the
impossible". Daily Mail.
^ Jump up to: a b Catherine Jones (2012). Wonder Girls. BookOxygen. Simon &
Schuster. ISBN 1849838828. Archived from the original on 6 June 2013.
Jump up ^ ITN News clip - (Gaumont Graphic Newsreel (Reuters)) Sport: Swimming:
Schoolgirl swims Bristol Channel
Jump up ^ Peregrine, Chris (25 July 2016). "Swansea doctor becomes first woman to
complete 24 mile swim from Ilfracombe to Swansea". South Wales Evening Post.
Retrieved 19 November 2016.
Jump up ^ Western Daily Press, 27 August 2008 - Surprise at pier for Channel
swimmer Gary [1]
Coordinates: 51°18′N 3°37′W

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