A magnetostrictive sensing system, comprising: a magnetostrictive sensor including a sensor head (106, 202) extending between a proximal end and a distal end (106d, 206d) that contains, a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate a first magnetic flux in response to a driving current, and at least one sensing pole having a sensing coil coupled thereto that is configured to output a first signal based at least upon a measurement of a second magnetic flux resulting from interaction of the first magnetic flux with a target and at least two proximity sensors (112, 216), the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) being configured to output a second signal based upon a gap between the distal end (106d, 206d) of the sensor head and the target; wherein the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) are arranged approximately symmetrically with respect to the driving pole; and wherein each of the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) is a sensor comprising at least one of a laser proximity sensor, an optical proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a radar proximity sensor, a microwave proximity sensor, and an eddy current proximity sensor; characterised in that the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) are positioned within the sensor head (106, 202) and secured to the distal end (106d, 206d) of the sensor head, the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) being distanced from the driving pole and the sensing pole or positioned outside of the sensor head (106, 202) and coupled substantially rigidly thereto; and wherein the second signal is a combination of signals generated by the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216); and wherein the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) are positioned between the driving pole and the sensing pole or between two sensing poles such that the first magnetic flux generated by the driving coil and the second magnetic flux measured by the sensing coil are each substantially unchanged by the proximity sensor (112, 216); and wherein the first proximity sensor is different from the second proximity sensor. a magnetostrictive sensor including a sensor head (106, 202) extending between a proximal end and a distal end (106d, 206d) that contains, a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate a first magnetic flux in response to a driving current, and at least one sensing pole having a sensing coil coupled thereto that is configured to output a first signal based at least upon a measurement of a second magnetic flux resulting from interaction of the first magnetic flux with a target and at least two proximity sensors (112, 216), the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) being configured to output a second signal based upon a gap between the distal end (106d, 206d) of the sensor head and the target; a driving pole having a driving coil coupled thereto that is configured to generate a first magnetic flux in response to a driving current, and at least one sensing pole having a sensing coil coupled thereto that is configured to output a first signal based at least upon a measurement of a second magnetic flux resulting from interaction of the first magnetic flux with a target and at least two proximity sensors (112, 216), the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) being configured to output a second signal based upon a gap between the distal end (106d, 206d) of the sensor head and the target; wherein the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) are arranged approximately symmetrically with respect to the driving pole; and wherein each of the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) is a sensor comprising at least one of a laser proximity sensor, an optical proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a radar proximity sensor, a microwave proximity sensor, and an eddy current proximity sensor; the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) are positioned within the sensor head (106, 202) and secured to the distal end (106d, 206d) of the sensor head, the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) being distanced from the driving pole and the sensing pole or positioned outside of the sensor head (106, 202) and coupled substantially rigidly thereto; and wherein the second signal is a combination of signals generated by the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216); and wherein the at least two proximity sensors (112, 216) are positioned between the driving pole and the sensing pole or between two sensing poles such that the first magnetic flux generated by the driving coil and the second magnetic flux measured by the sensing coil are each substantially unchanged by the proximity sensor (112, 216); and wherein the first proximity sensor is different from the second proximity sensor.