A-Z Metal Detecting Groups
If you want permission, community, and fewer awkward conversations in farmyards, joining a club is about as close as detecting gets to a cheat code. This Daily Dig page is your “who’s where” guide: a curated A–Z of UK clubs and groups, organised by region, with examples you can actually look up.
It is a snapshot, not the Ten Commandments. Clubs fold, rebrand, go “Facebook only”, or turn into invite-only WhatsApp cults. Treat this as a map, not gospel, and always check the links and requirements before you rock up with your Deus and a packed lunch.
HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE
- New detectorists: Use this to find a sensible, insured, code-following club near you. Then go and learn from people who already know which end of the spade goes in the ground.
- Landowners: Use it to see who is active in your county and who looks vaguely organised, insured and responsible.
- Grumpy veterans: Use it to mutter “that’s not all of them” and then go look at the primary directories we link at the end.
Each region has a short table of sample clubs, alphabetically, with rough coverage and character. These are selected examples, not exhaustive lists.
UK-WIDE / MULTI-REGION GROUPS
These outfits run digs across multiple counties and often act like “roving clubs”. Good for variety, less good if you want a small local committee arguing over biscuits.
| Club | Coverage | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of England Metal Detecting | UK-wide, especially Midlands | Commercial / organised digs | Long-running group putting on digs across several counties; often recommended to newer detectorists. regton.com+1 |
| Metal Detectives | Mainly South & Midlands | Commercial / organised digs | Big multi-county operator; regular digs, online booking, and a long history of rallies. metaldetectives.co.uk |
| Muddy Boots Detecting Group | UK-wide | Online group / digs | Facebook-style community with organised digs around the UK. regton.com+1 |
| North Detectorists | Based in Scotland, UK-wide digs | Online group / digs | Scottish-based but with reach beyond; part of Regton’s UK-wide list. regton.com+2regton.com+2 |
| Six on Sticks Metal Detecting | UK-wide | Online group / digs | UK-wide group, often mentioned in latest club roundups. regton.com+1 |
| Sons of Archaeology Metal Detecting Club | UK-wide | Online group / community | UK-wide community branding itself firmly on the “responsible” side. regton.com+1 |
| The Weekend Wanderers | Multi-county, especially south | Large club / dig organiser | Veteran rally club with days and multi-day events, widely referenced in club link pages. metaldetectives.co.uk+2regton.com+2 |
SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire. Busy fields, busy roads, and more detectorists per acre than sheep in some spots.
| Club | Counties / area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magiovinium Metal Detecting Club | Buckinghamshire | Traditional club | Established Bucks club listed in classic UK club lists. hobbyumbrella.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk+1 |
| Mid Kent Metal Detecting Club | Kent (Maidstone area) | Traditional club | Established 1977; monthly meetings/digs; detailed website with membership info. DiggingHistory.co.uk |
| Surrey Metal Detecting Club | Surrey, Kent | Large membership club | Fast-growing club (from c.60 to 3,000+ members by 2025), formal membership and landowner-facing pages. Surrey Metal Detecting+1 |
| West Kent Detector Club | Kent (West Kent) | Traditional club | Founded late 1970s; does community displays and has run a recovery service. DiggingHistory.co.uk |
| Wessex Metal Detecting Association | Berkshire / wider Wessex | Association | Classic “Wessex” club name, long-listed in UK club roundups. hobbyumbrella.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk+1 |
| Wyvern Historical Detector Society | Wiltshire (Swindon area) | Club | “Friendly club based in Swindon” listed on Metal Detectives’ club links. metaldetectives.co.uk |
Daily Dig angle here:
The South East is also peak nighthawking territory. Clubs are your best filter: look for those explicitly talking about NCMD insurance, PAS reporting and working with local archaeologists. The ones that never mention any of that, but post endless “Gold again lads!” thumbnails? You know the answer.
SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire.
| Club | Counties / area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Cornwall Metal Detecting | Cornwall | Local group | North Cornwall-focused group listed in recent club directories. regton.com+1 |
| South Hams Metal Detecting Club | Devon (South Hams) | Club | Devon club active in south-west listings. regton.com+1 |
| Somerset Metal Detectorists UK | Somerset | Online / club group | Somerset-wide community from national club lists. regton.com+1 |
| Torbay Metal Detecting Club | Devon (Torbay) | Club | Torbay-based club referenced in several national club lists. ukdetectornet.co.uk+1 |
| Wyvern Historical Detector Society | Wiltshire / Swindon | Club | Doubles as South East/South West crossover; often draws from Wilts, Glos, Oxon. metaldetectives.co.uk |
South West note:
Rich in Roman, prehistoric and early medieval sites, but also heavy on scheduled monuments. Any club worth joining will be crystal clear on where you absolutely do not swing a coil.
EAST OF ENGLAND
Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire.
| Club | Counties / area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire Historical Search Society | Bedfordshire | Club | Listed in UK Detectorist’s club finder as an historic club in Beds. Uk Detectorist |
| Hertfordshire Detecting Club (HDMDS) | Hertfordshire | Club | “Friendly club based in Hertfordshire” listed on Metal Detectives links. metaldetectives.co.uk |
| West Norfolk Metal Detecting Club | Norfolk (West Norfolk / King’s Lynn) | Club | Long-standing West Norfolk club, often referenced in local archaeology circles. regton.com+1 |
| Wickford Metal Detecting Club | Essex (Wickford) | Club | Essex club featuring in several modern club roundups. regton.com+1 |
| Phoenix Metal Detecting Club | Cambridgeshire | Club | Classic Cambs club name, appearing in long-form national lists. hobbyumbrella.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk+1 |
East of England note:
This is hoard country. Any club here should be on first-name terms with the local Finds Liaison Officer. If they are not, that is your red flag flapping in the Fenland breeze.
MIDLANDS (EAST AND WEST)
Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Birmingham, Shropshire, etc.
| Club | Counties / area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom of Mercia Metal Detecting Club (KMMDC) | Birmingham, Staffs, Worcs, Shrops, Derbyshire | Club | Multi-county “Mercia” club organising rallies across the Midlands. regton.com |
| Leicestershire Metal Detecting Society (LMDS) | Leicestershire | Society | Private society meeting monthly in Barrow upon Soar. barrowuponsoar.org.uk |
| South Lancs and Cheshire Metal Detecting Club | Cheshire / North-West Midlands fringe | Club | Cross-county club appearing in national lists; Midlands/North-West crossover. hobbyumbrella.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk+1 |
| Stockport Metal Detecting Club | Greater Manchester / Cheshire border | Club | Featured in Regton’s North West listing; draws members from Cheshire fringe. regton.com |
| Worcestershire & Warwickshire Metal Detecting Club (WWMDC) | Worcs & Warks | Charity-supporting club | Non-profit club raising money for charity via digs; started 2014. regton.com |
Midlands note:
Perfect testing ground for newcomers: a blend of arable, pasture and industrial history. Also home turf for several big “UK-wide” dig outfits. As always: check code of conduct, PAS stance, and how they talk about farmers.
NORTH WEST ENGLAND
Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Cumbria.
| Club | Counties / area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheshire East Metal Detecting Club | Cheshire East | Club | North-West club listed in Regton’s North West section. regton.com+1 |
| Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Detectorist Club | Lancs / Ribble Valley | Club | Lancashire club in Regton’s NW list; rich medieval and post-med sites. regton.com |
| South Ribble Metal Detecting Club | Lancashire (Preston area) | Club | Large, active club; monthly meetings and rallies; widely referenced as one of the bigger NW clubs. ukdetectornet.co.uk |
| West Kirby Metal Detecting Club | Wirral / Merseyside | Club | Long-established Wirral club; often cited in national directories. ukdetectornet.co.uk |
North West note:
Expect a lot of Georgian and Victorian, punctuated by the odd medieval gem. Clubs here are often very experienced in landowner relations, because competition for good permissions is fierce.
NORTH EAST ENGLAND AND YORKSHIRE
Northumberland, County Durham, Tyne & Wear, Teesside, Yorkshire.
| Club | Counties / area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| County Durham Metal Detectorists (CDMD) | County Durham | Club | Durham-based club appearing in modern NE lists. regton.com |
| East Durham Detectors | East Durham | Club | East Durham-focused club in the Regton NE section. regton.com |
| South Yorkshire Metal Detecting Club | South Yorkshire | Club | Noted in recent overviews of club options in South Yorkshire. woodlands.co.uk |
| West Yorkshire Metal Detecting Club (e.g. Doncaster / region clubs) | West / South Yorkshire | Club | Several West/South Yorkshire clubs appear in national directory lists, often via detectorreviews and Doncaster pages. woodlands.co.uk+1 |
| Yorkshire-based clubs from NCMD and UKDetectorist | Yorkshire (various) | Multiple clubs | Several Yorkshire clubs are listed in NCMD’s directory and UKDetectorist’s finder, including smaller local groups. National Council for Metal Detecting+2Uk Detectorist+2 |
North East / Yorkshire note:
Viking, Anglo-Saxon, medieval, industrial – and some very opinionated soil. Expect waiting lists for the better clubs and be patient. Good clubs are protecting serious history.
WALES
Mountains, strip-fields, chapels, rain, and some outrageously good sites.
| Club | Counties / area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwent-area clubs | Gwent / SE Wales | Clubs | Several clubs and groups around Gwent are listed across NCMD and club directories. National Council for Metal Detecting+1 |
| North Wales and Wrexham-area clubs | Wrexham / North Wales | Clubs | Wrexham-area clubs appear in national lists and forum directories; check NCMD and UKDetectorist for latest names. National Council for Metal Detecting+2Uk Detectorist+2 |
| Swansea-area clubs | Swansea / South Wales | Clubs | Swansea-based clubs are recorded in several long-running club lists. ukdetectornet.co.uk+1 |
Wales note:
Strong PAS engagement and a lot of sensitive archaeology. Any Welsh club you join should be completely unambiguous about the Treasure Act, finds recording and landowner arrangements.
SCOTLAND
Different law, different flavour. No Treasure Act; you are playing under Scottish “Treasure Trove” rules, which means the Crown can claim pretty much anything of archaeological interest. Learn the rules before you dig.
| Club / group | Area | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dumfries & Galloway Metal Detecting | South-west Scotland | Club | Named in Regton’s Scotland list. regton.com+1 |
| Heart of Scotland Charity Digs | Central Scotland | Charity dig group | Central Scotland charity dig outfit, raising money while running rallies. regton.com+1 |
| Highland Metal Detectorists | Highlands | Club | Highlands-focused club in Regton’s Scotland section. regton.com+1 |
| Metal Detecting North East Scotland | NE Scotland | Club / group | North-east-focused group in Scotland section. regton.com+1 |
| Ross-Shire Relic | Northern Scotland | Club | Northern Scotland group from Regton’s Scotland list. regton.com+1 |
| Toddys – Metal Detecting Scotland | Scotland-wide | Group / digs | Well-known Scottish group operating across multiple regions. regton.com+1 |
| North Detectorists | Based in Scotland | Online group / UK-wide digs | Scotland-based but appears in both Scotland and UK-wide sections. regton.com+2regton.com+2 |
Scotland note:
If your chosen club cannot explain Treasure Trove and does not mention reporting finds to Treasure Trove Scotland, walk away. Quickly.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Northern Ireland has a tighter legal environment for detecting than most of Great Britain, and the club scene is smaller and more sensitive.
Rather than list partial or outdated club names, the safest move is:
- Check the NCMD “Clubs and Online Groups” directory for up-to-date NI clubs and groups. National Council for Metal Detecting+2National Council for Metal Detecting+2
- Check UKDetectorist’s club finder, which flags NI where data exists. Uk Detectorist+1
If you detect in NI and your club is not loudly talking about permissions and legislation, that is a bigger problem than whether they have a logo.
WHERE TO FIND THE “FULL FAT” LISTS
You are reading The Daily Dig, not the Domesday Book. For the truly exhaustive, constantly updated views, point readers to:
- NCMD “Clubs and Online Groups” directory – the closest thing we have to an official list, maintained and updated in 2025. National Council for Metal Detecting+2National Council for Metal Detecting+2
- Regton “UK Metal Detecting Clubs” – a recent (Aug 2025) crowd-sourced list broken down by region, good for spotting new names. regton.com+2regton.com+2
- UKDetectorist “Metal Detecting Clubs Near Me” – searchable by county, with club profiles and a data-quality rating. Uk Detectorist+1
- UKDetectorNet clubs page – long-running, county-ordered list, good for historical club names and contact leads. ukdetectornet.co.uk+1
- The Metal Detecting Forum clubs directory – community-maintained and explicitly updated in late 2025. Metal Detecting Forum UK
