A question for the experienced beach searchers

[Muddydigger]

With storm barney approaching I have a question , do all big storms strip sand off or do they have to be blowing in a certain direction ? ie.. Towards the shore or away from it , and does the storm have to coincide with high or low tide , I live very close to minehead beach in Somerset but despite many storms I don't think I've ever seen it stripped .... Unless I'm not looking properly

[dingdong]

Just keep looking,and yes after a storm !

[Chef Geoff]

The direction does have an effect though the timing of the storm is all important as the storm needs to be still in full swing as the tide is going out taking the sand which is now in suspension along with it sand can also be moved along the beach, longshore drift, stripping away large areas while covering others. Ironically Minehead beach is famous for losing practically every grain of sand in the 90's with sand having to be brought in by road before summer, It was a bonanza for detectorists as you could literally pick up coins from amongst the pebbles unfortunately this means that if the sand does get stripped back older finds are still deeper than the pebbles

[Muddydigger]

Cheers Geoff, so minehead probly not the best beach for me to be waiting around for 😕Any suggestions anyone ?

[Val Beechey]

You've got plenty to  choose from. What about The Haven, Dunster, Blue Anchor and Watchet. Not to mention all the bits in between.

[celticspikey]

Geoff is quite correct on tides, I was doing Minehead along with keepmeteethinthejar.....in the 90s at least twice a week when conditions were rite and it was exciting times for  coins and jewellery, the best times was winter ie now onwards to late April (storm times) in particular strong North Easterlys/ Easterleys some times with driving snow. Incidentally these were also the best conditions for Barry, one of the best quality jewellery beaches we have searched. The thing with Minehead now is the defence work that was carried out on the beach Groins etc...I'm not saying it wouldn't be any good now but I think it means even more Mother Nature must play her part, but that's the same for all beaches. If I lived in Minehead I would be keeping an eye out but also checking the beaches further down in Westward Hoe, Bude, Woolacombe these take a big hammering during winter. To be honest muddydigger you just have to check regularly don't forget on low tides the tree stumps you see there go back to Bronze Age, Oh if you haven't already get a Minelab....sorry if I'm teaching granny how to suck eggs...Lol.

[Muddydigger]

Appreciate the replies chaps, think I'll check the state of the beach in the  morning but I'm sure your rite celticspikey, the new defences / groins have had a big effect , mite have to look elsewhere , oh I'll be using a ctx 😀

[celticspikey]

CTX good boy    sold mine because I wasn't doing the beaches often enough now winters here I do regret it, got the Deus for inland, mite have to get another CTX Lol, mite join you down your way if I do 

[Muddydigger]

Your more than welcome .... Shame I don't have a spare one lol

[probono]

I'm still amazed by what still comes off Barry - one, one day I might something (but then I would have to go and detect there too!)

[Jonnietaz]

For myself, I have found that most beaches, all year round have low spots, sand off, you just have to find them, yes the storms from the other year did rape most beaches of sand, that might be an indication of why so meny seem to have had not so good a year beach hunting this year, but like others have said, it amazes me what turns up, time ans time again.

[dances with badgers]

not all storms good,some bring sand on  ,just keep an eye on your local beach and check low spots