metal detecting trips

History Hunts

metal detecting tours

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We provide guided small group metal detecting tours on well-researched, historic, private properties th r ough partnerships with landowners.

Our tours take groups to England, rural Virginia, historic beaches, and the Deep South. Our clients are taught the history of the lands and are able to choose from multiple properties. We pride ourselves in providing an authentic experience.

“ I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to be able to dig a 1600s pit. This hunt was one of the best I have ever been on. It was a lot of fun digging beside you and knowing you were just as excited as I was to see what would come out next.”

“These hunts are truly spectacular! Sal puts us on some incredible lands. I have made some amazing finds.”

Scott C.

“Each trip just gets better and better. Can't wait 'til my next trip.”

Mike C.

"Thanks for running such first class relic hunts. Good honest hunting on awesome land."

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Norfolk Metal Detecting Tours

Your search for the best metal detecting vacation in england ends here.

We have over 30 years of metal detecting experience in one of the most archeologically rich counties in England, Norfolk (North Folk) England. Our Metal Detecting Vacations in England offer an extremely high potential for finds, expert advice for the novice to seasoned metal detectorist and a personal touch from the minute you arrive in England and until the minute we return you for your departure back home. We will make Treasure Hunting England a pleasure! As you navigate through this website please make sure you check out the Gallery section which is under the drop menu heading of News From The Tours, The website is also mobile friendly but I believe it’s best viewed from a desktop computer or large tablet.

Please click here to find out more on how to book an exciting metal detecting experience..

Mikes Saxon chip carved mount For Website

Aerial Views Of The Landscape & The Guys.

What we offer:, stress free transportation from arrival to departure hotel with free wifi, aircon rooms and buffet breakfast included, personal tour guides born & raised in norfolk daily transportation to/from the fields, and the minibus stays in the field, handy if heavy rain comes our way best potential for finds from bronze age, celtic, roman, anglo saxon, viking, medieval & later periods access to more than 34 historic farms covering over 12,400+ acres of ancient soil and growing every month many of our sites have never had a metal detectorist’s footprint on them excellent track record of finds as shown in our picture gallery & previous tour group feedback pages on site expert to identify finds as they come up to keep you focused on hot spots table & chairs provided with tea and coffee and ice served through the days detecting right in the field digging spades (28 1/2 inches long or 73cm) and 2x high end detectors provided if needed – on first come first served basis.

Please click here to find out more on how to book an exciting metal detecting experience.

Just Some Of The Finds, Please Click On Images To Enlarge Them, Please Also View The Gallery Page

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Metal Detecting in NEW JERSEY (Helpful and Complete Guide!)

New Jersey, definitely one of the smallest states in the US, yet it is still a decent place for detectorists who love finding new and exciting stuff! Indeed, it represents many opportunities for highly valuable finds …

… Nevertheless, a prior step that you should definitely consider before starting your journey in there is by recognizing and sticking to the regulating rules for Metal Detecting in New Jersey! Thus, you will make sure having an enjoyable experience without much trouble with authorities in there …

… In this article, I address the following topics:

Most relevant laws that you should consider
Where you should detect in New Jersey
A Machine Suggestion for the State type of soil
Some Gold prospecting thoughts
Some relevant clubs that you may want to join!
As well as other useful hacks …

So, let’s get right into it!

What are the metal detecting laws in New Jersey?

The hobby in New Jersey is a legal activity that is governed by the federal Archaeological Resources Preservation Act (ARPA) . There are some reports confirming that People who break the ARPA law have, in the past, been arrested and fined for digging on State and Federal lands.

Other than this law, there is no known regulation against detection activities in the state of New Jersey. However, regardless of the lack of regulation, it should still be clear that the code of ethics of is well respected and any detectorist should not be found destroying property or leaving it a damaged condition.

Detecting in state parks is also allowed, but only if you get a permit from the Park Superintendent.

At the same time, remember that you should not dig anything that you believe is older than 100 years and an artifact, especially if you are detecting on any State lands.

You will also need to obtain a written permission from the landowner if you want to detect on private property! This is pretty much the rule for most US states

Where to go detecting in New Jersey?

There is no shortage of places that are ideal for detection activities in there. Here are some of the best places that you should target:

The Pine Barrens: This is a vast expanse of woods located in southern New Jersey that have many tales associated with it.
Grounds of the Crescent Hotel: This is a famous, reportedly haunted, hotel that was built in 1886. Regardless of whether or not the hotel is haunted, the fact remains that being such an old and historic place, detecting around the hotel is undoubtedly to yield something valuable and ancient.
Spy House: Also known as Seabrook-Wilson House, this is one of the oldest houses built in Bayshore. The house was built in mid-1663 and is known to have seen plenty of action during the Revolutionary War. This makes it an ideal place for metal detecting.
Ghost Lake: Take your detector along with you when you take a hike to Ghost Lake. The hike begins at the end of Jenny Jump State Forest’s Summit Trail, and it is said that the area used to be inhabited by Native Americans in the olden days. Many detectorists have reported finding Native American relics in this area.
Snake Hill: This is an abandoned mental asylum that has been lying abandoned for many years now. It is also known to be an unmarked burial ground. The place offers exceptional waterfront views and a trip to this place with your metal detector is going to prove to be worth the effort.

These are just some examples to get you excited! You will come across more exciting locations on the go for sure!

A Good Detector for this State’s soil!

New Jersey has a wide variety of soil types. In the Coastal Plain, you will find sandy soils while going towards the Appalachian region you will encounter shallow and rocky soils. Shale-derived smooth-textured soils mark the land in between.

In such different types of soil, it is best to use a detecting machine that can function across all kinds of terrain. The Garrett AT Pro ( Check it Here at Amazon!) is one of the best choices in the market for both beginners and professional detectorists.

The Garrett AT Pro is a fully submersible device, meaning that it is entirely waterproof and you can use it both on land as well as beach/freshwater hunting, relic hunting, coin hunting, and many more.

It comes with a pro mode audio, meaning that it has tone roll audio as well as proportional audio features that gives you a high chance of hearing the sound of potential targets as it remains in an all-metal mode.

The device also has high-resolution iron discrimination technology, and with the use of a touchpad, you can get access to 40 levels, helping you differentiate between trash and potential targets.

This Garrett detector comes with a digital target ID that has a scale of 0 to 99, increasing the ability to differentiate between the distinguished target connectivity.

If you want to successfully search for jewelry, relics, or even gold nuggets, this metal detector is the best device for detecting on New Jersey soils.

If for some reason, you are not a fan of Garrett Electronic Detectors and want to try a much more sophisticated machine! Then you probably should have a look at my favorite detector Here at Amazon! It is a Minelab Model that brings some enhanced technology to the table …

Beach detecting in New Jersey …

The state has many famous beaches with its 130 miles of coastline. If you want to use a detector on N.J. beaches, then you have many options here. While there are no special laws governing the hobby on the shores of New Jersey, the activity is not allowed on federal beaches such as Gateway National Recreation Area (commonly known as Sandy Hook).

Some of the beaches that allow detection activities without requiring any permit are as follows:

(Advice: Still double check with local authorities, as you never know, this may change in the future!)

Asbury Park Beach
Point Pleasant
Long Beach Island
Spring Lake Beach
Belmar Beach
Ocean Grove Beach
Lavallette Beach
Seven Mile Beach
Avon by the Sea
Atlantic City Beach
Fisherman’s Cove
Keansburg Beach

Searching for Gold there …

There is not much potential of finding gold in New Jersey, but some gold can still be found that comes down from the Abitibi gold belt in Ontario and Quebec . Prospecting in New Jersey is very challenging because it is difficult to find a decent quantity of gold.

Some reports claim that gold has been found around Franklin , but these deposits are also limited for sure!

Some of the older mines were also located in Bergin Country and Sussex County . Even though some rich mineral deposits have been found in some parts of the state, gold has not really attracted much attention to the region.

Nevertheless, some glacial gold deposits have been found from time to time in some of the rivers and creeks in New Jersey. But, it is challenging to capture this gold due to the extremely fine texture. Smaller particles of gold also tend to easily get lost in the panning process.

For more info about this topic in general, I’ve written this Gold Searching and Digging Guide ! With the goal in mind to help you find this valuable metal in an efficient manner!

What other finds to expect there?

From diamond rings to gold chains , there are many treasures to be found in New Jersey with a metal detector. Mercury dimes , Indian-head pennies , and sometimes even some ancient Spanish and French coins are just some of the finds that have been found in the state.

For example, some time back, a detectorist found a silver eight-real piece that dated back to 1778 . Found on the beach, the coin was valued at $250.

The many shipwrecks off the shore of New Jersey are also big draws for detectorists and are known to be good targets for digging up ancient relics and coins.

Are there good clubs in there?

There are many detection clubs in there. Some of the well-known clubs in the state include:

(MD stands for Metal Detecting)

Deep Search MD Club
South Jersey MD Club
North Jersey MD Club
East Coast Research & Discovery Club
Mid-Jersey Research & Recovery Metal Detecting Club
Certified Interested Amateurs
Jersey Coast Treasure Hunters
Garden State MD Club
Artifact Hunters Club Of New Jersey
Frisch School Treasure Society
Middlesex County MD Club

Getting your Permit to Detect in New Jersey!

You don’t require a metal detecting permit for detecting anywhere except for the State and Federal Parks in New Jersey!

For getting a license for detecting in State Parks in New Jersey, you need to contact the park superintendent of the specific park you want to detect in. Some parks also require that a park office follows you around as you search with your detector.

Apart from this, there is no requirement to get a detection permit in there as for today!

If you are a detectorist who’s living in New Jersey or you are just having the intention to go there and spend some time, then you should realize the enormous opportunities that this state could bring …

… My main goal in this article was to introduce you to that by listing several relevant examples! And also to, hopefully, encourage you to try your luck in there! I am sure that you won’t regret the experience …

For other places, I invite you to check this article on where to metal detect on South Korea !

Carissa Harmer

Carissa is the huge metal detecting enthusiast that loves collecting coins. She is also highly interested in other treasure hunting activities like magnet fishing and gold prospecting/panning.

9 Best Metal Detecting Vacation Spots Around The World

Are you eager to explore outside your home state or cross oceans to the other side of the world?

Globetrotting just got even better with the promise of finding hidden stashes of treasure. If you’re up to getting your passport renewed and you have the cash to burn, you may just come away richer in experience with rare pieces added to your collection.

If you’re looking to bring your favorite metal detector along on your vacation, or you want to plan your next trip around your hobby, here are some hot destinations metal detectorists must consider.

Our Top Metal Detecting Vacation Destinations

These locations have deep roots with legends of buried loot and cursed treasure. Learning the history, traveling, and putting boots on the ground of foreign territory is only part of the fun. Finding the long-lost cache is even more rewarding.

Even if you leave with empty pockets, the experience of the hunt is worth it. Who knows, you may find other significant objects or encounter otherworldly entities. Do your research, get the right metal detector for the job, and enjoy the plane ride.

1. Oak Island, Nova Scotia

Oak Island on Nova Scotia along Eastern Canada has a long history of housing hidden treasures of various kinds, and it is a dream hunt for many diehard detectorists. It has been sought-after detecting ground for over 200 years and has only been made more popular thanks to the History Channel’s “The Curse of Oak Island.”

You may want to get in on the hunt of the “Money Pit.” It’s a pit that is believed to have buried pirate loot but is elaborately booby-trapped to flood with water in preventing looters from recovering this treasure. Finding old coins are a definite possibility.

Other rumored treasure includes Shakespeare’s manuscripts, Knights Templar relics, jewelry belonging to Marie Antoinette, Freemason artifacts, 16th-century Spanish naval treasure, and more.

2. Florida, USA

Mainly, Florida coasts. This state is a promising location for hobbyists as sunken treasure and shipwrecks are many. Namely, the 300-year old 1715 Spanish fleet that consisted of 11 treasure-laden ships sunk during a hurricane. It’s known as the treasure trove that keeps on giving, and your chances of finding loot is just as good as anyone else’s, as long as you have the right metal detector that can handle the conditions of the beach and underwater hunting .

3. North Carolina, USA

Crystal Coast may already be a hot spot for family vacations, but you may be ignorant to the fact that it was once Blackbeard’s stomping grounds back in 1718. No one really knows what his intentions were for Beaufort where he settled for a short time. But, it is known that he split his loot and it hasn’t been seen since. His ship was recovered in 1996, and its artifacts are on display at the North Carolina Maritime Museum. As to his treasure, it’s rumored that there are four possible locations near and on Ocracoke Island that may just be where the “X” marks the spot. Take your detector on your next vacation to North Carolina and see if you can outsmart old Blackbeard.

4. Norfolk, England

There have been multiple hot spots in the UK that have proved to be worthy hunting grounds, but Norfolk has consistently pumped out the most finds. Historic treasure, as defined by UK coroners, are objects over 300 years old along with other qualifications. So, while many “treasures” are found, few are classed as legitimate treasure.

East Anglia has a long history of human activity between the locals, Saxons, and Vikings. Farming, plowing, and modern agriculture may be the reason why detectorists are continuously unearthing relics, coins, and other objects that may very well be classed as treasure that holds enormous amounts of history. There is still a lot of finds that go unreported. Your chances of finding farmland to scour and come up productive are high.

5. Aksum, Ethiopia

This area of Ethiopia is actually considered one of the most complex civilizations in Africa. The ancient empire was the first sub-Saharan African state to mint their own coins. Between unearthing lost cities, having rumored to hold the Ark of the Covenant, influenced by both Christianity and Islam, and there is evidence of Roman culture, Aksum is a treasure trove just waiting to be discovered. There is yet more to understand about this ancient kingdom and large parts of it remain unexplored. Give the archeologists a helping hand by scouring the land for potential finds that may yet bring even more history to light.

6. Utah, USA

You may have driven through Kanab several times on your way to a more exciting vacation destination, but you may not have realized that its sands and canyons may be harboring King Montezuma gold – Aztec treasure. What were they doing in Utah? Some believe they considered it their homeland and others that they were passing through with the King’s gold to keep it from being looted by Spanish conquistadors.

Three Lakes Ranch has said to be the area where the treasure is hidden. It’s also said to be buried inside a cave next to a pond that required a 35-foot hole to dig that was then filled with water. To make things even harder to detect, it’s said that the Aztec warriors killed each other so that their spirits would protect the gold. If that doesn’t creep you out, people who have sought this gold and their loved ones have died. Equipment has mysteriously failed. Hefty fines and consequences from state and federal agencies have been enforced. Is it cursed? Take your detector out and you tell us!

7. Deadman’s Beach, British Virgin Islands

If the name of the beach isn’t obvious enough, it was once an accidental, popular R&R spot for pirates – for their final rest. Their bodies would washup on shore from Dead Chest Island, and where there are pirates, there’s treasure. To add to the mystery and to fuel the addiction to finding gold, it’s been noted that there were feuding farmers who would hide their valuables on the island. Are you pirate enough to find it? You can always enjoy the scuba diving and tanning on the beach for a bit of R&R yourself.

8. Arizona, USA

Arizona and gold are two sides of the same coin. Famous counties for gold hunting are Yuma, Yavapai, Maricopa, Cochise, and Mojave. While there are many, many active mines within the entire state, there are also hundreds of abandoned mines that are worth checking out with your metal detector. Be sure to look for natural indicators that may lead you to undiscovered placer deposits.

Tombstone may invoke many-a-favorite’s law man Wyatt Earp, but it was first coined as a silver producing area. Search the outskirts, abandoned mines, and desert for silver and gold.

You may also want to head North from Tombstone to Superstition Mountains to seek out the Lost Dutchman’s treasure. Jacob Waltz, aka The Lost Dutchman, supposedly stumbled upon a concentrated gold mine that is now considered one of the most famous lost mines in America. There are many fragments to the Dutchman’s tale, but some have died trying to piece together the clues and locate it.

9. Australia

The land Down Under is one of the best places in the world to go metal detecting. Not only do you get to hop with the kangaroos, you can earn your stripes by sweating bucketloads to detect the largest gold nuggets or best finds of your life.

Consider the Umpherston Sinkhole at Mount Gambier, the underground mining town of Coober Pedy in North Adelaide, or the Pink Lake of North Perth. Not only will you have a heck of time detecting, you’ll enjoy the natural beauty of these Australian landmarks. Of course, they have multiple beaches and many shipwrecks for underwater hunting waiting to be explored.

The country is so big that you may want to consider joining an Australian outback expedition team that hits popular sites as well as trails off the beaten path.

Must-Have Tip: Know the Laws

It doesn’t matter if you’re on vacation, trespassing is still trespassing if you don’t have permission to metal detect. When planning your trip, make sure you save a lot of time for research. Research the history, the area, the right tools and detector for the job, and what the local, state, and country’s laws are for metal detecting. The last thing you need is to be stuck with hefty fines or returning without your metal detector as the best possible scenario. What’s the worst that could happen? Just don’t go there. Do your research and know the laws before you fly or drive.

Detect for the History

Metal detecting to get rich may prove to be a disappointing venture, especially if you’re looking to recoup your travel expenses and accommodation costs with your finds. Most archeological, historic, and significant finds belong to the state, government, museums, and the like, and as such, they are not yours to claim. However, some organizations may compensate you for finding them. Instead of looking for fame and riches, detect for the history.

Unearthing centuries-old treasure and relics will certainly get your name written down in the books, but it’s the experience and recovery of the unknown that you’ve brought to light which is, in and of itself, priceless.

This metal detecting vacation will be an unforgettable one.