Thinking Things Out: Guidance of British Metal Dectorists

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Duh. Seen on the home page of a metal detecting forum near you:

STOP!
Before you purchase a metal detector, it is important to know the legal requirements to use one. ALL land in the UK is private (including footpaths, parks, Commons, etc.), and specific permission is required in ALL cases. We have an ever-increasing number of people who buy a detector, only to find that they can't use it anywhere and end up selling it.

You know, you can alwys just ask a landowner, not just expect to walk out of the door onto a piece of empty land and begin detecting and taking artefacts. It does not mention the situation with beaches.