Can you metal detect on Sefton beaches?

Green Sefton publishes a code of conduct for detectorists on Sefton beaches, which implies detecting on the open beach is accepted. It bans detecting in the beach parking zones and the dunes, and finds of interest must be reported.

Covers

Southport, Ainsdale, Formby, Hightown, Crosby to Bootle

Permission

No permit mentioned. Advice: Green Sefton, Ainsdale Discovery Centre, tel 0151 934 2961, greensefton@sefton.gov.uk. Report finds of interest to Green Sefton and the Liverpool Museum Finds Liaison Officer (0151 478 4259).

Watch out for

Not in the beach parking zones at Ainsdale and Southport. Not in any dunes or sandhills (Sandhill Byelaw 11). Ainsdale/Birkdale Local Nature Reserve byelaws apply. The Formby beach area owned by the National Trust follows NT policy, which bans detecting on all NT land including beaches unless it is part of an approved archaeological project (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/about-us/metal-detecting-on-national-trust-land). Munitions warning: call 999 if you find any. Much of the Sefton coast is the Sefton Coast SSSI and part of the Ribble and Alt Estuaries protected site - consent may be needed to dig there.

What the source says

"Do not use metal detecting equipment in the beach parking zones at Ainsdale and Southport ... Do not use metal detecting equipment in any part of the dunes or sandhills"

Source

www.sefton.gov.uk/media/4658/metal-detectors-on-the-sefton-coast-2018.pdf · 2018

Checked

8 Nov 2026 · confidence: medium