🏖️ Beach Metal Detecting Permission Checker
Instantly check whether metal detecting is allowed on Swansea & Gower beaches, who manages the land, and whether a permit is required.
🏖️ What Is the Beach Metal Detecting Permission Checker?
The Beach Metal Detecting Permission Checker is a free online tool created by WishfulDetecting.com to help detectorists quickly find out whether metal detecting is allowed on specific Swansea and Gower beaches.
Many beaches in Swansea appear public, but in reality they are managed by Swansea Council, the National Trust, or a mix of private landowners and public bodies. Each authority has different rules, and detecting without permission can result in fines, confiscation of equipment, or being asked to leave.
This tool removes the confusion by clearly showing:
- Who manages each beach
- Whether metal detecting is allowed
- If a permit or written permission is required
- Whether National Trust restrictions apply
Why Is This Tool Needed?
One of the biggest mistakes detectorists make — especially beginners — is assuming that all beaches are free to detect. In Swansea and across the Gower Peninsula, this simply isn’t true.
Some beaches:
- Require a Swansea Council metal detecting permit
- Are partially or fully owned by the National Trust
- Have local by-laws that restrict detecting
- Change rules depending on location, season, or management area
Searching for this information manually can be time-consuming, unclear, and often contradictory. The Beach Permission Checker brings everything together in one place, so you can:
- Detect legally
- Avoid confrontation or penalties
- Protect historic sites
- Enjoy your hobby with confidence
🧭 How to Use the Beach Permission Checker
Using the tool is simple and takes just a few seconds:
- Search or select a beach from the list (e.g. Langland Bay or Swansea Bay)
- Instantly view:
- The managing authority (Swansea Council, National Trust, etc.)
- Whether metal detecting is allowed
- If permission or a permit is required
- Click “Read Full Beach Guide” to view a detailed legal article for that beach
- If required, click “Apply for Permission” to visit the official Swansea Council permit page
The tool is updated as new information becomes available and will continue to expand as more beach guides are added.
🏛️ Understanding Permissions, Councils & National Trust Land
Not all restrictions are the same. This tool clearly distinguishes between:
- Swansea Council–managed beaches
Usually require a permit or written permission before detecting. - National Trust land
Metal detecting is generally not permitted without explicit written consent and is often completely prohibited. - Mixed or private ownership areas
Permissions can vary by section of the beach.
Because boundaries aren’t always clearly marked on the ground, checking permissions before you detect is essential.
⚠️ Important Legal Reminder
This tool provides guidance only and does not replace written landowner permission.
Detectorists are still responsible for:
- Complying with the Treasure Act 1996
- Reporting qualifying finds to the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS)
- Respecting protected or sensitive sites
- Filling in holes and leaving beaches exactly as found
When in doubt, always seek written permission.
👤 Who Created This Tool?
The Beach Metal Detecting Permission Checker was created by WishfulDetecting.com, a UK-based metal detecting resource focused on legal detecting, permissions, and responsible hobby practice.
The site is run by Darren Protheroe, providing clear, up-to-date guidance for detectorists across Swansea, the Gower Peninsula, and beyond.
🔍 Why Trust WishfulDetecting.com?
- UK-focused legal detecting guidance
- Local Swansea and Gower expertise
- Clear explanations without jargon
- No guesswork or misinformation
- Regularly updated content
This tool exists to help detectorists enjoy the hobby legally, responsibly, and stress-free.