A tidal bore is a positive surge taking place during the flood tide with a large tidal range and the bore corresponds to the leading edge of the tidal wave propagating upstream. In this study, some physical modelling was performed to investigate the upstream bore propagation over fixed and movable gravel beds. Both undular and breaking bores were tested. The free-surface and velocity measurements were complemented by some observations of particle motion beneath the bore front. In the

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... teady flow and beneath undular bores, no sediment motion was observed for the experimental set-up. Beneath breaking bores, on the other hand, some upstream gravel bed load motion was observed behind the bore. The gravel bed particles were de-stabilized by the roller toe passage and advected upstream. The unsteady velocity data showed some damping of the transient recirculation on the movable gravel bed.