Metal detecting on beaches - beaches are owned by The Crown not the council - you can detect on public beaches without permission but if you found anything it would have to be reported to The Crown.  Some smaller beaches are privately owned and if this is the case you would need to ask permission from the private land owner before you could detect there. Unfortunately at this time the council is unable to authorise metal detecting on ground in its ownership however local metal detecting groups may be able to assist to identify areas in private ownership where metal detecting is allowed.