ith a history as long and battle-speckled as ours, it’s inevitable that the UK is full of treasure.

In fact, according to official stats, over a thousand pieces of treasure were declared in the UK in 2020, with the east of England, most notably Norfolk, particularly rich hunting grounds for finding long-forgotten, valuable artefacts. The majority of it was unearthed through the use of metal detectors.

What happens to the finds? According to the Treasure Act of 1996, the finder has to give first refusal to a museum first; if they don’t want it, it’s finder’s keepers.

But before you mentally file away metal detecting as a side hustle, pound signs in your eyes, there are many reasons why it’s an excellent hobby in itself, and one that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Aside from giving yourself a break from screens, it’s a perfect distraction exercise, upping your daily step count while you’re preoccupied with another task. It’ll also increase your knowledge of English history, always handy come pub quiz time. And, with the right detector, anyone can do it - no special skills, beyond waving what’s essentially a digital stick over the ground, necessary.

We spoke to Joan Allen, a leader in the metal detecting field, for more information.

Metal detecting has previously been viewed as a hobby for the older generation but due to the pandemic over the past few years it has encouraged people from all demographics to get outside and explore new landscapes as well as find things in the ground with incredible historical significance. It offers an opportunity to get out there and concentrate on listening for the tones from the machine and taking time out from a busy lifestyle to just enjoy the open space. There have been multiple groups that have formed over the past few years which use metal detecting to improve mental health and encourage those who have been struggling to get out and talk.

There’s a few things that you need to get started with the hobby:

There are plenty of machines out there on the market and it can often be confusing to know which one is best for any detectorist. The entry level machines now have simple LCD screens on them with buttons where you can select which ground you are detecting and what kind of metals you want to avoid (as well as various other settings). A stand out machine for beginners is the Minelab Vanquish range. It’s a great machine which has been designed to simply pick up and go. It features Minelabs Multi-iQ technology which means the machine can work out the best settings for the ground you’re detecting so all the user has to do is turn the machine on, head out and go! If you buy from a reputable detecting shop they will be able to guide you with the best machine for your needs.

First you need to acquire permission from whoever owns the land, whether that’s the council or a private land owner. Look at local history and landmarks to try and work out what may come up from the ground. Local libraries can be helpful for research, as well as the internet in particular Google Earth to find out about historical marks. The best way to find out if you’re on prime land is to just head out and detect.

There is history all over the UK and it’s still being discovered now with lots of hot spots around the UK. Metal detectorists are re-writing the books with our history so it really depends on what you’re hoping to find in terms of the best location.

If you’re keen to give it a go, or want to go treasure hunting with the kids, we’ve rounded up the best detectors to give the hobby a go.

With the ability to alert you to the presence of iron, steel, aluminium, brass, silver, copper and gold, this metal detector makes a great starting device for anyone considering trying the hobby. As well as the machine, it comes with a carry bag to help you get it to your site safely as well as batteries and a foldable shovel to enable you to hit the ground running. Avoid collecting litter by activating the discriminate function.

The 10-inch waterproof search coil is ideal for sweeping beaches and woodlands, and its highly sensitive too, able to pick up coin-size targets up to 8 inches deep, and 4 feet for larger targets. Weighs 1.2kg and the special arm support design makes you more comfortable when detecting

Suitable for adults as well as kids, veterans and newbies, this lightweight detector is waterproof so it will perform even while under water - hello to panning for gold in rivers and streams. See treasure pop up on the large LCD display (3 x 2.2-inches) and fine-tune your search to look for all kinds of metals or narrow it down to just one type. It comes with accessories too: a super premium shovel, a rain cover, and a carrying bag that makes it easy to pack for trips away so you find treasure elsewhere around the globe.

If you’re tired of watching your little ones waste their days glued to a screen, this metal detector will have them pleading with you for long country walks. From National Geographic comes this treasure-hunting tool, weighing an impressive 1.5lbs that is so lightweight they can carry it around all day.

Give them a test run by hiding the five replica doubloons in your garden until they’ve got the hang of sweeping enough to venture further afield. It’s perfect for taking away on family holidays too as the coil folds and the arm support removes for simple packing. Perfect for kids who are easily bored on the beach.

Inquisitive children will adore this kit, which guides them to making not only a robot of their very one, but one that can help them locate buried treasure too. Once built, your aspiring Indiana Jones can control the robot with a remote control, who will alert them to the presence of any hidden metals with a cheerful bleep. Traditional metal detecting can be done too, simply transform into a handheld mode to search in or outside the house. Suitable for ages 8+.

This fully adjustable metal detector from Buki offers an excellent introduction to the hobby. Features include a backlit digital display, so you can see what you’re searching for even in poor light. The handle length, volume and detection sensitivity can all be adjusted to help you narrow down your search and make the unit more comfortable to hold over longer periods. In a fetching black and yellow colourway, the gadget is designed for users aged 9+, so ideal for older kids as well as adults, or having parent-child bonding time. 19V battery required.

Not only does this bundle have everything you need for your first detecting adventure, but the purchase comes with a Quest Diamond Digging shovel, an excellent tool to help you dig up your find. The weatherproof gadget makes it ideal for using in any weather and there are three modes: coin, jewellery and all-metal to help you zone in to what you want.

A flashlight is part of the design so you can continue sweeping even in low light conditions and the whole unit operates on a rechargeable battery - just connect to the port when you’re running low on juice. There’s also a beginners guide included with helpful hints and tips to help you get the most from your new hobby.

Built for adult hobbyists, this striking black and red metal detector streamlines functions so that you’re not overloaded with options when you’re first starting out. Multi-IQ pings up all sorts of metal in all kinds of terrain - think beach, field or park.

Thanks to its waterproofability, it can even detect metals underwater to a depth of 3.3ft, expanding your search area to include streams and rivers. With four AA batteries, you’ll have a run time of around 10 hours, although we recommend rechargeable ones to lessen your impact on the environment.