Can you metal detect on Charmouth beaches?

Detecting is allowed with permission: a day/weekly pass from the beach attendant, or a 12-month permit from the Parish Clerk. Keep away from cliffs and mudslides, and significant finds' rewards are usually split 50/50 with the council.

Covers

Charmouth foreshore and adjoining parish-owned land

Permission

Verbal application to the Parish Council beach attendant (Beach Office) for a day/weekly pass, signing the policy; or written application to the Parish Clerk (clerk@charmouthparishcouncil.gov.uk, 01297 560826) for annual consent with a passport-style photo. No cost stated.

Watch out for

No detecting on or near cliff faces or mudslides; no digging beyond 1m, into the possible Jurassic forest, or on Evans' Cliff / Evans' Green grassland and paths.

What the source says

"It is the Parish Council's policy that metal detectors may be deployed on the Foreshore subject to:"

Source

charmouthparishcouncil.gov.uk/file/cpc-metal-detectors-daily-use-policy-2.pdf · Adopted June 2024, review due June 2029

Checked

8 Nov 2026