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Do You Need Permission to Metal Detect?

  • Writer: Holly
    Holly
  • Aug 18
  • 3 min read

Updated: Sep 2

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If there’s one rule every beginner needs to understand about metal detecting in the UK, it’s this: you always need permission before you detect, no exceptions.

This might come as a surprise. Many people assume they can wander into a field, woodland, or beach with a detector and start digging. But the reality is that all land — whether private, public, or foreshore — belongs to someone, and you cannot detect there without their consent.


Permission Is the Golden Rule

Unlike some hobbies where you can simply buy equipment and get started, detecting is shaped by the legal principle of land ownership. The landowner controls what happens on their property, including whether detectorists are allowed.

Without permission:

  • You are trespassing as soon as you start detecting.

  • If you remove anything from the ground, you are committing theft.

  • You could also damage archaeological sites and risk prosecution under heritage laws.

For this reason, experienced detectorists often repeat the mantra: permission, permission, permission.


Farmland and Private Land

The most common detecting spots are privately owned fields. To detect here, you must get permission directly from the landowner, usually a farmer or estate manager.

Some detectorists arrange a written agreement, often setting out how any finds will be shared. A common split is 50/50 for anything of significant value. Others rely on trust and a handshake.

Building good relationships with landowners is one of the most important skills in the hobby. Being respectful, filling your holes, and sharing finds helps secure long-term permissions.


Council-Owned Land

What about parks, commons, and open spaces? These are often owned by local councils.

  • Some councils allow detecting in certain areas.

  • Others publish clear bans on their websites.

  • A few require written applications for permission.

It’s never safe to assume. Always check the council’s website or contact them directly before you detect.


Beaches and the Crown Estate

Beaches might seem like a grey area, but the rules are clear. Most foreshore (the area between high and low tide marks) in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is owned by the Crown Estate, which grants permission for metal detecting by default.

This means you don’t need to apply, but you must follow their conditions, such as filling in holes and avoiding protected sites.

Above the foreshore — dry sand, dunes, promenades — may be owned by councils or private bodies, and separate permission may be required.

In Scotland, the Crown Estate manages much of the foreshore, but the law of bona vacantia means all archaeological finds belong to the Crown and must be reported.


Land Owned by Large Organisations

Some organisations have blanket policies:

  • National Trust: A firm ban on detecting across all its land, including beaches and woodlands.

  • Forestry England: Detecting is generally not allowed, as much of their land is archaeologically sensitive.

  • Wildlife and conservation bodies: Often prohibit detecting to protect habitats.

If an organisation states a blanket ban, there is no way around it.


Public Rights of Way and Common Land

Another common beginner mistake is assuming that public access means permission to detect. Walking along a public footpath or bridleway gives you the right to pass through, but not to dig. Similarly, “common land” is still owned by someone and requires permission.

Access is not the same as permission.


Legal Responsibilities

Getting permission is only the first step. Once you’re on the land, the law requires you to act responsibly:

  • Any finds that qualify as Treasure must be reported under the Treasure Act 1996.

  • Other archaeological finds should be recorded with the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS).

  • Finds technically belong to the landowner unless you’ve agreed otherwise.

These rules ensure the hobby contributes to historical knowledge while protecting landowners’ rights.


How Beginners Can Secure Permission

It might feel daunting at first, but many detectorists find success by:

  • Approaching farmers politely and explaining the hobby.

  • Offering to share finds or provide copies of research about the land.

  • Joining a local detecting club, which may have group permissions in place.

  • Starting on Crown Estate beaches to build experience before tackling farmland.

Persistence, politeness, and honesty go a long way.


Final Thoughts

So, do you need permission to metal detect? Absolutely — everywhere, all the time. The only exception is on Crown Estate foreshore, where permission is granted by default, but even there you must follow their rules.

For beginners, the message is simple: never assume, always ask. Securing permission is not just a legal requirement, it’s also the foundation of trust that keeps the hobby alive and respected.


Sources & Further Reading

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