Metal Detecting Guides
Is Magnet Fishing Legal in the UK?
No UK law bans magnet fishing. But the Canal & River Trust forbids it on its own water, and Scotland demands two separate consents before you cast.
Read the guide
Can You Take Pebbles and Shells From UK Beaches?
Taking pebbles, shells or sand from a British beach can be an offence. What the Coast Protection Act 1949 says, why it is not a blanket ban, and the fine.
Read the guide
Minelab Equinox 700 Review: The One Most People Should Buy
A UK review of the Minelab Equinox 700 at £799: why it beats the 900 for most British detecting, what you give up, and when it is too much detector.
Read the guideMinelab Equinox 900 Review: Is It Worth £1,049 in the UK?
A UK review of the Minelab Equinox 900: what the 40kHz option and Gold mode actually buy you, how it differs from the 700, and who should save the £350.
Read the guide
Minelab Manticore Review: What £1,799 of Detector Buys You
A UK review of the Minelab Manticore: what the 2D ID Map actually does, the weight and charging trade-offs, and whether it beats an Equinox 900.
Read the guide
Minelab Vanquish 340 Review: The Cheapest Detector Still Worth Buying
A UK review of the Minelab Vanquish 340 at £199: what Multi-IQ gets you at this price, the waterproofing limit nobody mentions, and when to spend £60 more.
Read the guide
Minelab X-Terra Pro Review: Control for £334
A UK review of the Minelab X-Terra Pro: why a single-frequency detector costs more than a multi-frequency Vanquish, and who it actually suits.
Read the guide
Nokta Simplex Ultra Review: The £300 Waterproof Benchmark
UK review of the Nokta Simplex Ultra: 5-metre waterproofing and a carbon shaft for £300, and what single-frequency 15kHz costs you in British ground.
Read the guide
The Best Rock Tumblers in the UK (2026)
The best rock tumblers in the UK, what the four grit stages involve, how long a batch really takes, and where you can legally collect stones.
Read the guideCan You Metal Detect on UK Beaches? The Rules, Beach by Beach
Can you metal detect on UK beaches? Crown Estate foreshore, council and private beaches, National Trust, the Thames, Scotland, and what to do with finds.
Read the guide
Using a Metal Detector to Find Lost Arrows: A Guide for UK Archers
How to find lost arrows with a metal detector: what it picks up on carbon and aluminium arrows, settings, search patterns, club procedures and kit.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting in Northern Ireland: The Licence, the Law and What You Can Actually Do
Metal detecting in Northern Ireland: the 1995 Order, when you need an Article 41 licence, where you cannot detect, and the 14-day duty to report finds.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detectors in the UK (2026)
The best metal detectors in the UK for 2026, from a £199 first machine to the £1,433 flagship: what separates them and how much you really need to spend.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting in Wales: The Law, Cadw and Where You Can Detect
Metal detecting in Wales: the Treasure Act, recording finds with PAS Cymru, Cadw's scheduled monument rules, and where you can detect on Welsh beaches.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting in Scotland: The Law and Treasure Trove Explained
Metal detecting in Scotland: why finds must be reported to Treasure Trove, who owns them, permission rules (even in parks), beaches, and how rewards work.
Read the guide
How to Research Metal Detecting Sites with Old Maps
How UK detectorists use old maps, tithe maps, LiDAR and the PAS database to find productive land, and how to turn that research into permission.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting in Your Own Garden: A UK Guide
How to metal detect in your own garden in the UK: what you might find, where you stand legally, and how to search a lawn and dig without ruining it.
Read the guide
Do You Need Insurance for Metal Detecting in the UK?
Do you need insurance to metal detect in the UK? Public liability cover explained, why landowners and clubs ask for it, NCMD membership and the cost.
Read the guide
How to Use a Pinpointer for Metal Detecting
How to use a metal detecting pinpointer step by step: from signal to find, searching the hole and the plug, sensitivity settings and common mistakes.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting Permission Letter Template (UK)
A free metal detecting permission letter and agreement template for UK landowners, with what to include on finds sharing, treasure, insurance and access.
Read the guideMinelab X-Terra Pro vs Vanquish: Which Should You Buy?
Minelab X-Terra Pro against the Vanquish 340, 360, 460 and 540: selectable frequency versus Multi-IQ, waterproofing, weight and UK prices, with a clear pick.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detecting Books for UK Detectorists (2026)
The best metal detecting books for UK detectorists: beginner guides, finding sites, identifying finds and coins, and a few great reads.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detecting Finds Pouches in the UK (2026)
The best metal detecting finds pouches and digger bags in the UK: pinpointer holsters, rubbish pockets, drainage and what to look for.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detecting Sand Scoops in the UK (2026)
The best sand scoops for UK beach detecting: stainless long-handled scoops for wet sand and surf, cheap plastic ones for dry sand, and how to choose.
Read the guide
The Best Waterproof Metal Detectors in the UK (2026)
The best fully waterproof metal detectors in the UK, from £189 to £1,400: what IP68 really means, how deep each can go and which to buy for the beach.
Read the guideXP Deus II vs Minelab Manticore: Which High-End Detector?
XP Deus II against the Minelab Manticore for UK detectorists: fully wireless design, multi-frequency, waterproofing, weight, UK prices and which suits you.
Read the guide
20 Metal Detecting Tips for Beginners in the UK
Practical metal detecting tips for UK beginners: how to swing, what to dig, finding land, beach and field tips, and the kit that makes the biggest difference.
Read the guide
Garrett Ace vs Minelab Vanquish: Which Is Better for UK Beginners?
Garrett Ace 150, 200i, 300i and Apex against the Minelab Vanquish range: single versus multi-frequency, waterproofing, UK prices, and which to buy.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting for Gold in the UK: What's Realistic
Metal detecting and panning for gold in the UK: where gold is found, who owns it, the permission you need, and the best gold detectors and panning kits.
Read the guideMinelab Equinox 700 vs 900 vs Manticore: Which Upgrade Is Right?
Upgrading from a beginner detector? The Minelab Equinox 700, Equinox 900 and Manticore compared for UK fields and beaches, with a clear pick for each.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detecting Headphones in the UK (2026)
The best headphones for metal detecting in the UK, wired and wireless, with which plug fits which detector, and the Minelab, Garrett and XP options compared.
Read the guide
Common Metal Detecting Finds in the UK (and How to Identify Them)
The most common metal detecting finds in the UK, from buttons and musket balls to hammered coins and Roman bronzes, and how to identify what you've found.
Read the guide
How Deep Can a Metal Detector Detect?
How deep metal detectors really go, why the claims on the box don't match the field, and what affects depth: coil size, target size, soil and settings.
Read the guideNokta Simplex vs Minelab Vanquish: Which Is Better for UK Beginners?
Nokta Simplex Lite and Ultra vs Minelab Vanquish 340 and 360: waterproofing, multi-frequency, features and price, with a clear pick for each.
Read the guideThe Best Metal Detecting Spades and Diggers in the UK (2026)
The best metal detecting spades, shovels and hand diggers for UK soil: long-handled spades for fields, hand diggers for parks, and what makes a good one.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detectors Under £100 in the UK (2026)
The best metal detectors under £100 in the UK: what a budget detector can and can't do, the models worth buying, and when it's worth saving a bit more.
Read the guide
How to Clean Metal Detecting Finds (and When Not To)
How to clean metal detecting finds safely: what you can clean, what you never should, and how to store coins and old finds, based on UK guidance.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting Clubs and Rallies in the UK: A Beginner's Guide
How UK metal detecting clubs and rallies work, what they cost, the insurance you'll need, and how joining one is the easiest way to get land to detect on.
Read the guideMinelab Vanquish 340 vs 360 vs 460 vs 540 vs 560: Which Should You Buy?
The Minelab Vanquish range compared for UK buyers: the original 340 and 540 against the new fully waterproof 360, 460 and 560, with current UK prices.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detectors for Kids in the UK (2026)
The best metal detectors for children in the UK, from £50 starter kits to proper detectors a child won't outgrow, plus the rules families need to know.
Read the guide
The Best Time of Year for Metal Detecting in the UK
When to go metal detecting in the UK: why autumn and winter are the main season on farmland, what to do in summer, and the best conditions for beach detecting.
Read the guide
How to Get Permission to Metal Detect on Private Land
How to find land and ask a farmer for permission to metal detect in the UK, what to put in a finds agreement, and the checks to do before you start.
Read the guide
Metal Detecting Kit List: What You Actually Need
The metal detecting kit you actually need for your first outing, what can wait, and roughly what it costs, with a UK beginner's budget in mind.
Read the guideMetal Detecting Laws in the UK: Permission, Treasure and Where You Can't Go
UK metal detecting law explained: landowner permission, what counts as treasure, reporting within 14 days, scheduled monuments, and Scotland and NI rules.
Read the guide
The Best Beach Metal Detectors in the UK (2026)
The best metal detectors for UK beaches: why wet salt sand is tricky, waterproof versus water-resistant, and where you're allowed to detect on the coast.
Read the guide
The Best Metal Detectors for Beginners in the UK (2026)
The best metal detectors for beginners in the UK, from £150 to £410: what to look for, how much to spend, and which suit UK fields and beaches.
Read the guide
The Best Pinpointers for Metal Detecting in the UK (2026)
Why a pinpointer is the first accessory to buy, and the best metal detecting pinpointers in the UK from about £40 to £120.
Read the guide
What to Do If You Find Treasure (UK Guide)
Found something that might be treasure? What to do on the spot, reporting within 14 days, the coroner's inquest, valuation and how rewards are shared.
Read the guide
Where Can You Metal Detect in the UK?
Where you can and can't metal detect in the UK: beaches, farmland, parks, rivers, woodland, National Trust land and scheduled monuments.
Read the guide