First Time Beach Detecting

[carlx]

Hello,

I am new to the whole metal detecting hobby and this community, so i obviously have a few questions!

1) I know that i need a crown permit to search the foreshore, i am led to beleive this does not include sand dunes, is this correct?

2) The crown permit allows searching to the waters edge, is there a permit for me to go in the water? If so where would i apply for that? (i have a fully submerable detector and would like to practice snorkeling and detecting at the same time....

3) Rivers are often included in the crown permit, if i was to go into the water in a river, there are very few people who would see me/and or care what i am doing- do i take it the foreshore ruling still applies to rivers? (i think i read that somewhere but just wanted concise answer)

4) Some foreshore is owned/operated by local councils, will they have signage up stating no detecting?

5) On a beach that has beach errosion installments (barriers, walls etc) Would i be right in assuming, that if the tide was moving the sand and therfore coins etc, they would be caught by these barriers, would i then be right in assuming these should be methodically searched?

That should do for now, i have no doubt i shall be needing your advice and guidance in the not to distant future!

[russ 1]

Hi carl yes mate like the ferret says ,check local bylaws ,as different councils have different rules,best to leave sand dunes alone as they,re wildlife habitats.lots of beaches don,t need a permit, the crown estate maps will sort that out, as for snorkling, well to be honest if you can detect on the beach then no one should mind whether you,re in the water or out, main thing is to take home all rubbish and fill all holes afterwards, one more thing, enjoy it mate . don,t forget, barriers groynes and walls etc are always worth checking as they get replenished, and other searchers will always miss something.

[carlx]

Russ and Ferret, thank you- i have read the crown website, it says the sea bed is not the fore shore, i will build up to detecting in the water, get the beach detecting down first!

Thanks again.

[biro]

The rules are that you can detect upto the peak high tide, so you cannot go further than the waters edge at high tide. This would generaly rule out detecting on sand dunes as the tide will never reach these. The other is mean low tide, so you can walk out to the waters edge when the tide is going out to its maximum before it turns. In Scotland they use the high spring tides as the limits.
Biro.............

[carlx]

Thank you for this clarification biro, i have seen quite a few detectorists in sand dunes and above the high tide mark ... do people/wardens/lifeguards whatever their title .... do they actually care? or is it more likely they don't know the rules so don't question the act?

[Blackadder43]

Typically sand dunes are classed as sssi
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwor ... fault.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stevexxx]

Personalty I detect all over the beaches from the shallows to the top of the beach and never had a problem however I don't venture into dunes as these are often protected and digging holes may undermine the dunes ... perhaps someone should tell the bunnies that...

[carlx]

Thanks steve & blackadder, i wasnt aware dunes are classed as sssi, good to know! Cant wait to get out and about!

[DOGMAN]

The Crown Estate maps are not clear and certainly not accurate. I ring them telling them which beaches I want to detect on ( for clarification),and request they forward me better maps by email which they always do.
You can detect between low tide and high tide but not in the water.
As already mentioned, the website gives clear details on detecting, and you can complete the application form and print off the licence which takes a couple of minutes in total. The Licence isn't designed to look fancy, but gives you permission which is what you're after. Good Luck.

[russ 1]

hi carix did you get out after? if so how did it go mate?