Can I metal detect on the beach in Cornwall?

Q: Can I metal detect on the beach in Cornwall?

Depends on the beach. Detecting is allowed with no permit on 30 named council-owned beaches (e.g. Long Rock, Porthmeor, Gyllyngvase, Fistral, Porth, Readymoney, Par, Porthpean). Not allowed on SSSI beaches, any beach not on the list, or council open spaces and verges. Source: https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/parks-leisure-and-culture/beaches-in-cornwall/metal-detecting-on-cornwall-council-beaches/ (checked 8 Nov 2026).

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Cornwall · beach metal detecting rules

Can you metal detect on Cornwall beaches?

Depends on the beach

Detecting is allowed with no permit on 30 named council-owned beaches (e.g. Long Rock, Porthmeor, Gyllyngvase, Fistral, Porth, Readymoney, Par, Porthpean). Not allowed on SSSI beaches, any beach not on the list, or council open spaces and verges.

Covers: Whole Cornish coast, Bude/Widemouth round Land's End to Downderry/Seaton (council owns a listed subset of beaches)
Permission: No council permit needed on listed beaches. On leased beaches ask the leaseholder (usually the beach cafe). Where the council owns only MHW-MLW (e.g. Praa Sands, Treyarnon, Porthcothan, Mawgan Porth, Tolcarne, Great Western, Towan, Fistral) also get the upper-beach landowner's permission.
Watch out for: Leased beaches: Porthmeor, Porthminster, Porthgwidden, Gyllyngvase, Castle Beach, Swanpool. Partial: Portreath (right-hand side of watercourse only), Widemouth (north of Black Rock only), Whipsiderry (not the cliffs), Porth (not Trevelgue Head). All SSSI beaches banned. National Trust land, including beaches, is closed to detecting except approved archaeology (nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/about-us/metal-detecting-on-national-trust-land). Duchy of Cornwall foreshore ownership not confirmed from an official source.
What the source says: "Metal detecting is permitted on Council owned beaches."
Source: www.cornwall.gov.uk/parks-leisure-and-culture/beaches-in-cornwall/metal-detectin
Checked: 8 Nov 2026

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