Detecting in/around North Norfolk - Hunstanton area

[stressbaby]

Hi all,
I'm relatively new to detecting and am planning a caravan trip near Hunstanton in a week or two.

I contacted the Crown Estate office to be sure of where I could detect but am now extremely confused as to where I can go whilst I'm down there! They tell me parts (or should that be seemingly MOST) of the coastline is leased to Natural England but I get the distinct impression they are not very sympathetic to detectorists given the signs forbidding metal detectors around the area.

Can anyone give me a definitive answer as to where I can detect?

This is the reply I received from the Crown Estate office - sorry but the file extension would not allow me to attach it to this post.

Dear Mr Jones

The Crown Estate is required to manage its land in accordance with the terms set out in The Crown Estate Act 1961 and we are therefore able to lease parts of that estate to third parties in the same way as any other landowner. Further information on the background and role of The Crown Estate can be found on our web site at http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The foreshore at Hunstanton does not however form part of The Crown Estate and is therefore not covered by the permit. Any leases in place would not have been granted by us.

The nearest foreshore that would be covered by the permit is at Brancaster Bay which is leased to the RSPB but I am not aware of any restrictions that they have in place that would restrict access or detecting. Many of the foreshore areas around North Norfolk are covered by environmental designations such as SSSI, SPA, SAC, RAMSAR, Heritage Coast and AONB so there may well be restrictions in place as a result of those designations however they are put in place by the regulator not the landowner. Details of any restrictions can be found at Natural England's web site.

Yours sincerely

Iain Mills
Asset Manger
The Crown Estate

16 New Burlington Place, London, W1S 2HX
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7851 5267 | Mob: +44 (0) 7827 859 731

Cheers folks

[stts]

Hi stressbaby

I found a few posts on this forum

Regards beach detecting at Hunstanton and heacham. Hunstanton beach is split into two half sand requires permission these are not crown land. One in a private owner hope this helps.

Source - http://www.metaldetectingforum.co.uk/vi ... on#p539906

from Holkham , Wells next the sea and right around to near Sheringham is out of bounds for detecting anyway

Source - http://www.metaldetectingforum.co.uk/vi ... on#p525665

Hunstantons a good beach but better to wait till end of season, It can be very productive near the old pier area, But I tended to concentrate on low tide in front of what used to be searles holiday camp, find were mainly Victorian to modern but odd Roman turn up. It has always been a good beach for Gold rings but only in winter

Source - http://www.metaldetectingforum.co.uk/vi ... on#p374920

Welcome to this wonderful forum