Gordano Valley Metal Detecting: A Day Out That Unearths More Than History

Holly
Aug 18
4 min read

Updated: Aug 27

Metal detecting is more than a hobby. Done right, it’s exercise, mindfulness, history, community, and curiosity rolled into one. And in North Somerset, just 10 miles from Bristol, there’s a business dedicated to making sure beginners step into the hobby with confidence rather than confusion. That’s the heart of Gordano Valley Metal Detecting (GVMD), run by Daveran Baulch and his small, passionate team.

A Founder Who Lives the Journey

The story of GVMD begins with Daveran himself. After 25 years in the corporate world, life had left him unfit, disconnected from the outdoors, and in need of change. The discovery of metal detecting transformed his health, boosted his wellbeing, and gave him a fresh sense of purpose. Now, he’s bringing that same transformation to others through carefully designed experience days.

This isn’t just a commercial venture. Daveran has spent decades mentoring people in the workplace, and those skills carry across beautifully into the field. Patience, encouragement, and hands-on teaching are his trademarks. Add in his co-instructor James, and you’ve got a team that understands both the technical and emotional side of the hobby.

The Setting: 500 Acres of Possibility

GVMD’s courses take place on a working farm overlooking the Gordano Valley and the Bristol Channel. It’s a stunning location, with pasture, woodland, and occasionally ploughed fields depending on the farming season. From base camp, guests are treated to views across the Bristol Channel towards Wales. The sheer scale of the land—500 acres—means every visit offers variety.

It’s not just about the scenery though. These fields are layered with stories, and every target dug is a connection to the people who lived and worked the land before us.

What to Expect on the Day

Unlike some “try a detector for an hour” style tasters, this is a full day skills school, carefully planned so that every guest leaves with practical knowledge. The day unfolds like this:

Arrival and briefing – health and safety, etiquette, countryside code, and signing a permission contract with the landowner.
Skills school – learning your detector, pinpointing, digging techniques, and recognising signals.
Test field hunt – a field seeded with positive signals so you know what “good” sounds like.
One-to-one mentoring – every guest has their skills assessed in a private test lane.
Field hunt – time to apply what you’ve learned on the farm itself.
Certification – at the end of the day you leave with a certificate recognising your progress.

By the time you pack up, you’ll have the skills to walk onto a club dig or your own permission and look like you’ve been detecting for months.

Equipment Made Simple

Beginners often feel overwhelmed by gear. GVMD takes that anxiety away by providing everything you need:

Quest X5 metal detector – easy to learn, yet powerful enough to get real results.
Pinpointer – a handheld device for narrowing down a find once you’ve dug a plug.
Spade and trowel – the essential digging tools.
Finds bag and belt system – keeping scrap and treasures separated.
Coin box – where the special finds are stored safely.

Guests are welcome to bring their own kit too, but the point of the course is to make equipment feel natural—so that “muscle memory” develops.

What Could You Find?

No detecting session is without its share of “rubbish”—aluminium, foil, old farm junk. But that’s part of the story too: removing it helps clean the land. Mixed in, though, are the items that light up every detectorist’s eyes.

Think coins, musket balls, buckles, buttons, and everyday objects that bring past lives into focus; a silver shilling, a Roman sestertius, maybe even Roman jewellery. The thrill comes not just from the object, but from knowing you’re the first to hold it in hundreds if not thousands of years.

The Treasure Act and Your Finds

Every guest keeps what they find, with one important caveat: if your discovery falls under the Treasure Act 1996—say, a hoard of silver coins or a gold object of cultural importance—then it must be reported. GVMD takes time to explain how the Act works, what happens when the coroner is involved, and how finds are valued if they end up in museums. It’s practical knowledge every responsible detectorist needs from day one.

Wellbeing Benefits Beyond the Finds

One of GVMD’s strongest messages is that detecting is as much about wellbeing as it is about artefacts. Swinging a detector, listening for signals, digging, and simply walking the land—all of this is exercise for the body and a reset for the mind. The release of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins (the brain’s “feel good” chemicals) makes detecting a natural stress reliever.

Guests leave not only with skills and perhaps a coin or two but also with a sense of calm achievement.

Building a Community

Perhaps the most valuable part of GVMD comes after the course itself. Every guest is invited to join a private metal detecting club where finds are shared, questions are answered, and digs can be arranged. It turns a single day into an ongoing hobby, supported by friends.

Daveran and his team are open about staying in touch—by email, Facebook, or in the club itself. That continuity ensures no one feels left adrift after their first experience.

Practical Details

Location: Weston Lodge Shooting Ground, Portishead, Bristol BS20 8JX.
Season: April to September (with flexibility outside those months by arrangement).
Group size: Up to five people, keeping tuition personal.
Price: £75 per person for the full day.
Extras: Guests are encouraged to join the National Council for Metal Detecting (NCMD). Membership is just £8 a year and provides £10 million public liability insurance, plus access to clubs and digs.

Why Choose Gordano Valley Metal Detecting?

Plenty of hobbies promise excitement, but very few offer a combination of history, learning, physical exercise, and mental wellbeing. GVMD stands out because it blends professional-level instruction with genuine passion. Guests don’t just learn how to detect—they learn how to enjoy detecting, responsibly and confidently.

If you’re curious about history, if you’ve always wanted to try the hobby before investing in expensive kit, or if you’re looking for a gift experience that’s unusual but meaningful, GVMD delivers. It’s a day that starts with curiosity and ends with confidence.