Newton Abbot District Metal Detecting Club

We are the Newton Abbot District Metal Detecting Club, where we bring together metal detectorists from across the Teignbridge and South Hams area to share our passion for uncovering hidden treasures!

A metal detectorist on the beach with a metal detector and a sand shovel

Uncovering the Hidden Treasures of The South West

The Newton Abbot District Metal Detecting Club is a vibrant and diverse group of metal detectorists from all walks of life. From a Policeman to a Restaurant Owner, a Radio Ham to a Clergyman, this friendly group of hobbyists has been bringing together people from the Teignbridge area of South Devon since 2013.

Not only do we abide by the Guidelines laid down by the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Countryside Code, but we also hold Public Liability Cover to ensure the safety of all members.

Unlock the Mysteries of Your Land – Invite the Newton Abbot District Metal Detecting Club for a Club Dig!

Are you a landowner with a curiosity about the history of your property?

Let us help you uncover the secrets of the past with a club dig. Contact Us to get started on the voyage of discovery

Our experienced metal detectorists are passionate about discovering the hidden stories of the land and will always conduct thorough research before visiting a site. This includes examining old maps, studying National Heritage data, satellite imagery and relevant printed material.

We understand the importance of protecting your property and will always adhere to the Metal Detecting Code of Practice.

All our members are fully insured for public liability, and a short landowners agreement form will be signed in advance of any site visit, detailing the way any significant finds should be dealt with (normally 50:50 split).

Unlock the mysteries of your land with the Newton Abbot District Metal Detecting Club and join us on a journey of discovery.

Metal Detectorist in camouflage gear Bending Over

The landowner of a site we recently visited for a Club Dig

“I recently invited the Club to come and explore my land. I was amazed at the professionalism and enthusiasm of the members. They were very respectful of my property and took great care to ensure that the area was left in the same condition as when they arrived.

The club members were also very knowledgeable and were able to answer the questions I had. I was delighted to find out that they had uncovered some interesting artefacts from my land.”

Metal detecting is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby that gets you out in the fresh air

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

As a beginner It all depends on the budget you have available, and your willingness to risk investing in a hobby that you may not be for you. A good entry machine will cost in the range of £150 to £250, cheaper if bought second-hand. The monthly metal detecting magazines are full of stories where beginners with entry-level machines have found important finds. They will do a very great job of getting you started and giving you the experience to upgrade wisely later if you wish.

Over the last few years there has been an improvement in metal detecting technology with the advent of Simultaneous Multi-frequency (SMF) machines which seems to have improved identification and detection depths over the older single-frequency-at-a-time machines. Many entry-level machines now incorporate SMF.

If you have a larger budget, then you could spend anywhere up to £2000. Some of the best performing machines can be found between £800 to £1500 and are designed to be successfully used by beginners. They are packed with advanced variable settings so the best approach is to initially keep to the standard settings, then once that has been mastered only adjusting one variable at a time.

In choosing your machine you need to decide where you will be detecting. Different machines have their strengths and weaknesses regarding beaches, the sea and land. Some are fully waterproof; some have specific modes for wet and dry sand and salty conditions. Others may be better in differentiating good targets within trashy iron areas. In the UK it is extremely unlikely that you will need a specialist gold prospecting machine designed to detect tiny gold nuggets.

The club has forty members with a wide range of experience and machines, who are happy to provide further advice.

Our members upgrade their detectors as budgets allow and skills progress and we buy and sell equipment. Check out our For Sale/Swap page on our forum

The important point is to only metal detect where you have the landowner’s permission, anything taken away without landowners permission is theft. Regardless of permission it is illegal to detect on protected sites, such as those defined as Scheduled Monuments, Sites of Special Scientific Interest or military crash sites, and those involving human remains.

If you are new to metal detecting and do not yet have any permissions read more…

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, vis an nihil tation doctus, mel ne iriure accusam evertitur. Te omnes repudiandae pri, dolores appetere incorrupte id nam. Mundi doctus mel ad, modo tempor iudicabit vix eu. Duo adhuc noluisse incorrupte.

“

“Egestas purus viverra accumsan in nisl nisi scelerisque eu ultrices. Amet nulla facilisi morbi tempus iaculis urna.”

A selection of previous finds

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Turpis egestas sed tempus urna et pharetra pharetra.

8 tools needed
The ultimate guide
The essential

It is not just old metal we search for

If you’ve lost a precious piece of jewellery, such as a gold ring, earring or necklace, in the South Devon area, we may be able to help.

Our members are happy to travel to the loss site and use their metal detectors to try and recover your item(s). We don’t charge for this service, but if our members have to travel a long way, we’d be grateful if you could reimburse their travel costs.

We won’t enter into any contracts, but we’ll do our best to recover your items and return them directly to you.

If you’d like to take advantage of this service, please use the contact us link and fill in the details. We’d be grateful if you’d like to make a donation to our club after using this service, but please don’t feel obligated to do so. We’re here to help, and this is a free service.

Newton Abbot District Metal Detecting Club

Uncovering the Hidden Treasures of The South West

Unlock the Mysteries of Your Land – Invite the Newton Abbot District Metal Detecting Club for a Club Dig!

The landowner of a site we recently visited for a Club Dig

“I recently invited the Club to come and explore my land. I was amazed at the professionalism and enthusiasm of the members. They were very respectful of my property and took great care to ensure that the area was left in the same condition as when they arrived.

The club members were also very knowledgeable and were able to answer the questions I had. I was delighted to find out that they had uncovered some interesting artefacts from my land.”

Metal detecting is an enjoyable and rewarding hobby that gets you out in the fresh air

“

A selection of previous finds

Lost Property Free Rescue Service

It is not just old metal we search for

Read more testimonials from happy landowners

Kimberly

Richard

Howard