Beach metal detecting can be a fascinating hobby and there are times when it can be very lucrative. With me saying this, don’t rush out and buy a beach metal detector and expect to get rich quick. Beach metal detecting is great and you will find coins and jewelery if you put the time in. Like many hobbies you need to know how to use your metal detector correctly (make sure you buy a metal detector that can handle the wet salt sand while you are metal detecting on the beach) how to read the beach and the best conditions to search in. Below you will find 5 more tips to help you find more while metal detecting on the beach.

I have been beach metal detecting for years and in addition to my previous post – 5 tips to help you find more while beach metal detecting – I have listed an additional 5 tips here which you might find useful. If you do, why not head over to my metal detecting Facebook page and let me know what you found.

Beach metal detecting tips

Do your homework

Doing some research on the beach you are going to metal detect on, is always a good thing and you never know what might turn up. That research might be as little as looking at old beach photographs to see where people congregate, or looking back through records if you think the beach is near a site of historical interest, either way, it is to your advantage to research and understand the beach you are going to metal detect on.

Check the metal detecting forums

Before you head off to the beach it’s always a good thing to check out some forums on the Internet as there might be forum posts that highlight a certain area is producing. At the very least, you can search on the metal detecting forum for older forum posts about the beach you intend to metal detect on. You never know what information will come to light and it’s always worth a try.

Choose the correct beach and give yourself the best chance

Depending on what items you are looking for while out metal detecting its always good to give yourself the best chance of success. For example, if you are targeting recent losses like coins and jewelery, you need to target a beach that is heavily used in the summer months. There is no point expecting to find coins and valuable items on a beach that is tucked away and hard to get to, as this will not have been heavily used. You might get lucky but it’s best to give yourself a good start. In contrast to this, if you are targeted older finds, it’s important you do your homework on beaches with a historical background and target these in winter. I say winter, as this is the best time to metal detect for older items, as the winter storms rip the top layers of sand off the beach and expose the older more compact layers beneath.

Dig everything and I mean everything

Most modern detectors today will have all sort of functionality to discriminate against trash and all sorts of objects. This can be great in the correct conditions and if the user really knows the ground they are working. If you are beach metal detecting then DIG EVERYTHING, I say this as you just never know what is down there. There is also one big reason, as many metal detectors can give a trash signal for thin gold rings and other valuable items. For the sake of digging a bit more trash you will increase your finds, so dig ALL of those signals you get.

Head for the trash and left over BBQs

When metal detecting in the summer, it is fact of life that you will come across all sorts of rubbish left behind by party-goers on the beach from the night before. Do not shy away from these areas as they can be lucrative. You should take care for broken glass and other hazards but these area can bring rewards. I say this, as this trash shows you exactly where the people gather and where the possible finds will be. We have all seen the beach parties and probably been to a few in our time and you will know this is the area where people are lying down, messing around and generally having a good time, and this is where things are lost. The mess left behind is not great, but if you seen the remains of a beach party and you are the first on the beach, head for the trash and you will be surprised as to what comes up.

As a metal detectorist for many years it’s surprising the information you pick up over time and be sure to check back for more updates, reviews, finds and more.

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Part 2 of Beach Metal Detecting Torre Abbey Sands looks at the middle and Corbyn Head section of the beach. An area more rocky in nature and where you will find the beach huts and the beach cafe.

Moving along the beach from the white bridge end of Torre Abbey sands, the sand drops off and is always much lower than the flatter bridge end . It’s here you can glimpse the number of steps that actually go down into the sand and this is shown in the picture below. Notice that only a few steps are visible at the other end of the beach. At the far end you can gauge how much new sand is on the beach by the number of visible steps.

Moving along the beach shows a dip in the level of the beach and this dip and exposure of the beach steps never seems to change. The sand is always lower here and NEVER builds up to the extent you see at the bridge end. This allows the water to cover this area on all but the biggest tides, which means you will have to pick your times to metal detect on this area of the beach. It can be lucative here, and I can only put this down to the fact it is not detected on as much and also attracts swimmers due to its deeper water.

At the far end of the beach where you approach Corbyn Head the rocks from the headland start to appear. These rocks are never covered with sand, not even when the winter storms hit the beach. Don’t overlook this area as some good finds do come out from here. The rocks and rough ground hold the finds and it is worth taking time to search here. As mentioned, this area is the lowest point on the beach and uncovers later in the tide, so plan this in for your visit.

The rocky area also hold patches of sand which are worth searching as items stirred up by the tides and storms fall into these areas. Such areas are often missed by many detectorists, but can be worth a look.

Beach Metal detecting at the Corbyn Head end of the beach and the beach huts

At the far end of the beach in summer there are a row of beach huts and a cafe and such concentrated activity can be a gold mine for coins. Before you all rush off and search this area it can be a bit hit and miss. This is down to it being a popular spot but if you hit it at the right time it can be fun. I have certainly been on this part of the beach with my young son who has walked off the beach with his little pockets bursting with pound coins and a massive smile on his face.

The area in front of the beach huts is rocky so it tends to concetrate the activity on the beach. The beach cafe is also just a few yards off the beach and is accessed via a slipway, again this concentrates the traffic and the finds and the area in front of the small beach cafe can be a little gold mine.

Corbyn Head in summer can be packed as the beach bhuts and cafe are at this end of the beach

More Beach Metal Detecting advice

I hope you enjoyed the post and if you missed it, take a look at Beach Metal Detecting Torre Abbey Sands, part 1. Also take a look at Beach Metal Detecting, 5 tips that will help you find more!

If you are looking for a flat sandy beach in Torbay to do a bit of beach metal detecting on, then Torre Abbey Sands in Torquay is certainly a beach to consider.

With its flat open surface, fine sand and very easy access, it will certainly give a up a few modern finds over the summer.

This is one of my favourite beaches in the bay and one that has thrown up a few nice finds over the years.

With years of metal detecting under my belt, I have been metal detecting on numerous beaches in my time. Beach metal detecting can be a very rewarding hobby and below I will highlight some great spots to metal detect on Torre Abbey Sands, the main beach in Torquay.

(This is going to be the first of a series of posts on metal detecting on particular beaches and we start with Torre Abbey Sands in Torquay, Devon, or Torquay beach as it’s better known)

In the summer months metal detecting on the beach in Torquay can be great, but you must plan the tides and get there early in the morning. There are two main reasons for this with the first being that that on most tides the whole beach is completely covered. The second reason is that the beach is not the biggest and can fill up really quickly during the summer, so keep your metal detecting to the early morning and evening (the morning is much better).

Torre Abbey beach itself has a good history and like many beaches in the area, it has been an attraction from Victorian times. In fact, the whole promenade leading along to the harbour is man made and behind the beach the old Abbey and Spanish barn sit, a place where Spanish prisoners of war were held.

Needless to say, that when they built the sea wall and the area around where the Princess Theatre now stands, they revealed the long lost ancient forest and the fossils from that era.We are not looking for fossils when metal detecting on the beach at Torquay as they are a long way down below your feet,  but it does make your mind wonder as to what’s lurking below the beach.

Beach metal detecting at Torre Abbey – the white bridge end

Torre Abbey beach is not massive and can be walked from one end to the other in a few minutes.

The shallow beach and soft sand will attract many to the beach during the summer

Don’ t let this put you off as the beach can be PACKED during the summer months and this only means the possible finds.

Summer can see the sand build up but if modern finds are your goal then this is no problem. Like many beaches, it’s shape, depressions and general features can change in a matter of a few tides. That’s beach metal detecting for you and any changes in the beach can reveal more finds.

I like to think that any movement in the sand is natures plouging, just like the farmer in his field who turns the soil and reveals the new finds.

At one end near the White bridge is where the sand seems to be at it’s highest and smoothest and it’s this area that attracts the majority of people in the summer months as the beach is shallow with nice soft sand. Backing this area of sand (shown in the image below) is the sea wall and the concrete steps. During the summer months you will see 2 – 4 steps leading down to the sand and sometimes there is only 1 visible.

I know for a fact that the steps go down into the sand for at least another 16 steps or more as my mother used to play on the beach as a child and can confirm this. This indicates the depth of sand here, sand that will be packed with coins and jewellery and refreshed with new finds each week during the summer.

Steps that back the beach are often exposed and there are at least another 10 steps buried in the sand.

As mentioned, this area has a very gentle slope into the water and attracts the families and sun bathers. Metal detecting on the beach in this area during the summer will result in coins and the odd possible jewellery find. For more concentrated jewellery finds move to a more a central location on this shallow beach area and a little further out, when the tide allows.

This is the main area where the swimmers seem to be attracted to and this is the area where I have found most of my jewellery finds.

Close along the steps that back the beach can also be a good area for coins. The steps themselves attract the beach users as a place to set up camp, especially the families with children. On certain tides this area close to the steps is not always covered by the tide and as such becomes very fine dry soft sand. The result is any coins dropped into this fine soft sand vanish very quickly, so a place not to be missed.

This gentle shelving end of the beach can be a great place to pursue your beach metal detecting and during the busy summer months it can be a fairly lucrative. Being a popular tourist beach the council clean the seaweed and rubbish from the beach in the summer which leaves a nice flat even surface to run your metal detector over.

The video below shows the smooth gentle slope of the beach which attracts the holiday makers to the beach in the summer. In the video it shows the tide going out but on spring tides the water pulls back to the pier itself, about another 200 yards back from where the waters edge is in the video. The whole area can produce but concentrate your efforts in the central area for your jewellery finds.

Best times to metal detect at Torre Abbey sands

Like most beaches in the summer months they can be very busy and as such I restrict my metal detecting to early mornings and early evenings, with the best times being the very early mornings. You must ensure there is a beach to metal detect on, so check the tides to coincide with the water backing off the beach or low water being about 6 in the morning. During the summer it’s complete daylight at that time and you will have a lot of the beach to yourself.

Everyone has there own time table but I would not metal detect during the height of the day. The beach will be packed and this will reduce your finds and you will be completely over run with people wanting to know what you have found, especially the children. This is by no means a bad thing but planning your trip around the early tides will give you a lot more area to cover and a lot more peace.

Part 2 of Beach Metal Detecting Torre Abbey Sands will be posted soon, where I look at the middle section and Corbyn head end of the beach and highlight some of my finds.

If  you were interested in this article then take a look at Beach Metal Detecting – 5 tips that will help you find more.

5 tips that will help you find more!

Beach Metal detecting can be a very addictive hobby and this is mainly due to the fact you never know what you may find. This is true of fossil hunting along the Jurassic coast (another one of my hobbies where you just never know what might turn up), you just never know what will appear out of the sand.

This will be the first in a series of articles dedicated to metal detecting and we start with a few tips on beach metal detecting.

Beach metal detecting can be a specialised business as not all metal detectors can handle the ground. This is due to the high salt content of the sand and muds. If beach metal detecting is your passion then make sure your metal detector of choice can handle the ground conditions. For myself I chose the Minelab Explorer XS, which is a quality all round metal detector with full band spectrum detecting that will handle many ground types and situations, including the harsh conditions on beaches. In general, this particular metal detector is for the more advanced user and can take a lot of getting used to, but has superb handling and performance. There are unbox and go settings for the beginner but to get the most from this metal detector you need to understand it’s functions and capabilities and more on this in another post.

All beaches will give up their treasures differently and at different times, but there are a few tips that will aid in your search of the beaches. These tips are by no means guaranteed but will help if adapted for your chosen beach.

You can hit the beach and start to detect randomly and see what comes up. I have certainly done this on a number of occasions and with great success. There is no problem in going this at all and in winter on my local beaches this approach is a good as any.

On other occasions, especially on new beaches you are not familiar with, it does pay to take a step back and look at the lie of the land. You will have to do this on a regular basis even if you metal detect on the same beach over and over. I mention this, as unlike metal detecting on farmland, the beach is always on the move. In winter my local beaches can change beyond recognition as the winter storms smash into the beaches and take away those layer of sand that have built up over time. Such activity can rip into sand dunes bring down cliffs and the fields above the beach spreading the metal finds far and wide all over the beach.

More gentle weather and even the strong tides can change the shape of the beach making some areas more of a hot spot than others.

Beach Metal Detecting Tips

Beach Metal Detecting, Tip 1 – Dips and Gullies
When looking at the beach always look for the dips and gullies in the sand. The areas just before a sand bar or just after. Natural dips in the sand that are lower than the surrounding beach. It is in these places that the tides can deposit objects as the water in these depressions is not moving as fast as the water above it. This causes many objects that are being washed around in the tide to be dropped into these depressions and covered by the sand.

Beach Metal Detecting, Tip 2 – Rocky outcrop and pebbles
Rocky outcrops on sandy beaches and areas of pebbles and rocks can also be great areas to run your metal detector over. Don’ be afraid of these areas and always head for them if you get the chance. I say this as the rocks, stones and pebble areas, especially if they are along side sandy areas populated in summer with the hundreds of ring wearing sun worshipers, can be hot spots. This is because the rocks and rough areas can trap coins, rings and other metal items amongst them.

Beach Metal Detecting, Tip 3 – Rock Pools
Always pay some attention to shallow rock pulls on beaches. Rock pools should also be on your agenda to visit as these areas can be a natural dumping ground for the tidal action and trapping metal objects. Like stony and pebbled areas, if the rock pool areas are near sandy popular beaches it really is worth paying them a visit. Beware when doing this as it’s easy to forget that the seaweed covered rocks can be hazardous, especially for a metal detectorist with his Wellington boots on.

Beach Metal Detecting, Tip 4 – Storm damage
Storm cuts are always a must visit place for a beach metal detectorist. Those areas you see in winter where the storms and rough weather have sliced sections of the beach and sand dunes away. This allows you to metal detect on layer of the beach you do not get access to in the winter, so ALWAYS take advantage of this if it arises.

Beach Metal Detecting, Tip 5 – Exits and entrances to the beach
If you are looking for modern finds, then popular areas to focus your beach metal detecting are the exits and entrance ways onto the beach. All beaches have them and these areas can focus the modern finds for you. Places where beach visitors can buy food and drink is also another area where modern coins are dropped.

Beach metal detecting can be a very rewarding hobby and a very lucrative one, especially for the metal detectorist that does his home work, studies the beach and puts the hours in at opportune times. It’s also a very addictive hobby as you just never know what you are going to discover while metal detecting on the beach. Will you next signal be a modern coin? Will it be that gold ring you have been trying so hard to find, or will it be a much older metal object churned up from the lower sand layers by the recent storm. You can never really tell until you dig the object and it’s this unknown that keeps beach metal detectorists, metal detecting in all weathers.

If you are looking to expand on some of the beach metal detecting tips I have highlighted above then I recommend the following metal detecting books.

Metal detecting on the coast is a favourite book of mine that highlights some great beach metal detecting tips and watch out for an insight into this book coming soon.