You must apply for metal and mineral detecting consent to use any equipment capable of detecting metal within a protected place (a scheduled monument or monument in the ownership or guardianship of Scottish Ministers).
This includes equipment used for:
- metal detecting
- magnetometry
- gradiometry
- ground penetrating radar surveys
Metal and mineral detecting consent will normally be granted for geophysical surveys.
For metal detecting surveys, metal and mineral detecting consent will normally only be granted where the survey forms part of a wider research strategy, and provision is made for the conservation and reporting of finds.
How to apply
Applications for metal and mineral detecting consent must include:
- a research strategy including survey methodology, reporting and archiving of data
- a plan showing the proposed survey area
- confirmation that you have permission from the landowner to conduct the survey
Applications for metal detecting should also include:
- an outline of how you will conserve and analyse any finds
Application forms and guidance notes
Metal and Mineral Detecting Application Guidance Notes [PDF, 239KB]
Metal and Mineral Detecting Application Form [PDF, 168KB]
Metal Detecting and Scheduled Monuments [PDF, 1.41MB]
Contact
For more information or if you have any questions, please contact us by telephone on 0131 668 8716 or email us at hmenquiries@hes.scot.