Crown Estate foreshore permissions

[MDF Team]

Metal Detecting on Crown Estate Foreshore

Thinking of beach detecting and not sure where you can legally detect? Here’s a quick guide to Crown Estate beaches which might help.

The Crown Estate generally seeks to encourage access over, and responsible use of, the foreshore. Therefore, currently you are not required to obtain a permit. You are allowed to just go metal detect on Crown Estate foreshore. However you must read their terms and conditions here before doing so.

It is a condition of permission that all holes must be filled. Please be responsible and adhere to this.

Note you must report Treasure items to the coroner or via your Finds Liaison Officer as per the normal legal process. Items of value, such as jewellery, must also be reported; these should be reported to Crown Estates and the police within 14 days. See their T&Cs for more information.

For clarity, foreshore in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is defined as the land between mean high water and mean low water. In Scotland the definition is between mean high water of spring tides and mean low water of spring tides.

To know what beaches are owned by Crown Estates please use their map .

However things are not that straightforward!

Some Crown Estate beaches are leased or let to third parties

Some portions of the Crown Estates foreshore are leased or let to third parties. These third parties can apply their own restrictions and terms and conditions for visitors. It is recommended, before visiting any of their beaches, that you check for any restrictions. Websites, notice boards (and other info in this sub forum) may detail any relevant bye-laws and restrictions.

SSSI’s
Some foreshore areas may also have SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) designation. An SSSI protects an area or habitat that is of special interest due to the flora or fauna present, or the geology of the area. Therefore metal detecting may not be allowed, or may be restricted.
Information on access provisions for metal detecting these areas can be obtained from Natural England, the Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage.

A simple way to check if a beach has an SSSI is to look at Magic Maps. This great tool is supplied by the Department for Environment, Fisheries, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It provides a searchable, interactive map of Great Britain.

Things can change though so please go to the Crown Estate website for the latest terms and conditions.

[MDF Team]

Crown Estate beaches with restrictions

A list of beaches with restrictions. Post any you know of in the comments section and we’ll add them to this list. We’ll organise it by county

DEVON

* Blackpool Sands, Dartmouth- no metal detecting. You can, if a local resident, apply for permission.

MERSEYSIDE

* Formby point - National Trust beach - no metal detecting unless it is part of a clearly-defined archaeological project.


NORFOLK

* Brancaster - National Trust beach - no metal detecting unless it is part of a clearly-defined archaeological project.

[Koala]

Norfolk
Brancaster
NT
We don’t allow metal detecting on our land unless it is part of a clearly-defined archaeological project. Our metal detecting policy, and the conditions under which we might grant an Archaeological Research Agreement, are explained here.

These conditions apply to all Trust land, including beaches.

[Koala]

Merseyside
Formby point
NT
We don’t allow metal detecting on our land unless it is part of a clearly-defined archaeological project. Our metal detecting policy, and the conditions under which we might grant an Archaeological Research Agreement, are explained here.

These conditions apply to all Trust land, including beaches.

[Kevinl1888]

Fairly new to metal detecting! Heading down Scarborough in October just wonder what the patter is with detecting the beach there? Any help would be appreciate,
Thanks Kev

[Koala]

a quick search comes up with

Whitby, Filey, Scarborough South Sands and North Sands beaches as good to go.

[sweepstick47]

Here's another useful link regarding Metal Detecting (and Drone Flying) on beaches under the administrative administrative control of Crown Estates.
Metal Detecting and Drone Flying

The link also contains contact details for Gary Thompson - Crown Estate's Coastal Asset Manager.
ss47

[Breakfastbar]

Looking to possibly return to detecting after break of a number of years and would like to know if anyone can inform me if there are any restrictions detecting the `Coast Road` foreshore, Barrow-in-Furness? Thanks.

[Koala]

Looking to possibly return to detecting after break of a number of years and would like to know if anyone can inform me if there are any restrictions detecting the `Coast Road` foreshore, Barrow-in-Furness? Thanks.

Hopefully someone local will chime in

But you certainly will not be able to detect the NT bit. (National Trust)

I don't know the area that well. Been once. There were wardens knocking about. Why not ask one.

[Dazla77]

Hi All,

Can you confirm the purple beeches are not available to detect on?

Thanks!

[mrix]

Hi All,

Can you confirm the purple beeches are not available to detect on?

Thanks!

The beaches in Purple are owned by the Crown estate and you are allowed to metal detect on them, many of the other beaches may not show in purple but still able to metal detect, they could be Governed by the local councils or privately owned so its worth checking if metal detecting is still allowed

[Stilllost]

Thanks for this information.

I see the Crown reserve the right to take possession of any find made or rather, the finder has no right of ownership.
One supposes this is a proper legal "get out of jail" for them but its a rum do.

[dantheham]

Can someone confirm if we are allowed to detect on Crown Estate estuarys also marked in purple on the map as well as the foreshores? Are estuarys defined by the crown estate as always being in reciept of tidal water? If we can detect estuarys does this mean that we can only detect up to the mean high tide of the beach or a bit further in as we are including the mean high tide in the estuary to?

[TwoWheels]

I'm interested in this point about tidal river estuaries too - are they treated the same as beaches as far as the Crown Estate is concerned? And is the Thames foreshore the only one that it is required to have a licence for?

[jcmaloney]

This permissive right applies to Crown Estate foreshore only and not to the seabed, river beds, or any other Crown Estate land.
https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/en-gb/ ... ne-flying/