Harlech Beach

[Erik_the_Viking]

1) Which Beach - Harlech

2) Which area - North Wales

3) Is metal detecting allowed - Yes, subject to the usual Crown Estate conditions

4) Is a Permit Required - No, usual Crown Estate Conditions apply

Important additional Info
Sand Dunes OFF LIMITS as per Crown Estate, all holes to be refilled as well

We won't be hurrying back, hardly any bleeps to be heard. I wondered if my VK30 was still switched on! I only found two aerosol cans (1 of which was partially above the surface!) and a piece of celotex. It is a lovely beach though. Maybe better luck in the summer, or after a storm.

[Erik_the_Viking]

Further to what I said about Harlech Beach, I'd just like to add that this is an enormous beach, and we only detected for about an hour, we hardly covered much of it at all.
With a Norman castle overlooking on the hill, two caravan parks just down the road, a golf course, and a legion of dog walkers, I find it hard to believe that the targets aren't there.

There is a pay and display car park for access, just follow signs for Beach/Traeth.
Once in the car park the beach is a 5-10 minute walk along a path that takes you through the dunes.

[sponge]

My local beach is very large, some areas are very popular & busy - whilst others are deserted.

If you intend to search this beach often I would advise you to visit it on a busy day in the summer holiday season - to see where most of the activity is taking place.

[Brad85]

Do people go in the water there? If so, wait until low tide and scan the areas they bathe in rather than the dry sand. That's where rings will slip off fingers. The summer season is obviously the time to do that although you may find some older drops in the meantime. My best ever ring was a weighty 22ct number from 1911 and all but 2 of my rings have come from the area where people swim.

[Erik_the_Viking]

Great tips guys. Unfortunately, Harlech is the opposite side of the country from where I live, but we do have relatives near there. Unfortunately we only get to visit every few years, that may become a bit more frequent now though.

[Erik_the_Viking]

Do people go in the water there? If so, wait until low tide and scan the areas they bathe in rather than the dry sand. That's where rings will slip off fingers. The summer season is obviously the time to do that although you may find some older drops in the meantime. My best ever ring was a weighty 22ct number from 1911 and all but 2 of my rings have come from the area where people swim.

With regard scanning the area suggested in bold, I've tried on a few beaches, as I've heard that is agreat place to detect, but I've not had much luck.
I'm not sure if:
a) There's nothing there
b)My VK30 ain't up to it It seems to find nothing, and then go totally mental, yet I find nothing and then the signal disappears.
c) I'm not using my VK30 correctly yet; although I think I am. I use it in Beach mode, in motion mode. Sensitivity up to about 75% and discrimination to about 25%. Sometimes I swith to non motion, but that doesn't seem to help either.

On Harlech beach I buried a modern 10p coin at a depth of about 6 inches. Neither the VK1 nor the VK30 could find it until I dug it out almost all the way. The same with a 1971 1 penny coin.

[Koala]

Harlech isn't one I have detected

but if it's like the beaches further north, then majority of the beach are devoid of many finds, and everything is concentrate into very small patches

Although there should also be plenty of aluminium near the high tide mark. Assuming the detectors working okay.


of course if its recently been sanded in. Nothings going to work.

[Lance_Stater]

Harlech isn't a beach I have detected. As noted in a previous post about sanding, the goodies could be a half meter below the surface or more with normal beach conditions. Going back to Harlech after a good storm, with the beach sand washed out to sea would be the best. Getting down to the harder sand or clay below and above the tide line may produce some old and new finds. If they were dropped.
When I head out to a beach, I try to never miss a big storm event. But upon arriving, if the beach is not sanded out I’ll still look for the usually modern finds in the following spots, volleyball courts, logs or resting spots where you might find a pocket spill. Then there is the not so obvious locations for new finds, the beach area across the street from a eatery, where folks might sit down on the beach to enjoy there meal.
The paths to and from the parking area to the beach and the tall grass edge along the beach and grassland. You be surprise how much paper money gets caught in the tall grass. I know this is not detecting, but it pays for the petrol.
Last, with Easter Holiday coming up. A drive to the beach to see where families picnic might lead you to some areas to hunt. People seem to cluster in large groups, with easy beach access.
I had a great day once after Easter, there were plastic eggs full of coins and paper money. But, no Roman coins or Staters.

[Erik_the_Viking]

Koala, and Lance Stater, those are some excellent replies, thank you so much for your time and effort there. I will definitely take the information on board.
As for my VK30, I have contacted Viking about the issues that I have been experiencing for their comments.

[pasttarg]

prolly targets r too deep,dig a few holes to get a feel for whats deeper down ,fil in after