Editing Freedom to roam (section)

==Foreshore==
{{See also|Public trust doctrine}}
Public rights of way frequently exist on the [[foreshore]] of beaches. In legal discussions the foreshore is often referred to as the ''wet-sand area''.

For privately owned beaches in the [[United States]], some states such as [[Massachusetts]] use the low water mark as the dividing line between the property of the State and that of the beach owner. Other states such as [[California]] use the high-water mark.

In the [[UK]], the foreshore is generally deemed to be owned by the [[The Crown|Crown]] although there are notable exceptions, especially what are termed ''several fisheries'' which can be historic deeds to title, dating back to [[John of England|King John]]'s time or earlier, and the [[Udal Law]], which applies generally in [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]]. While in the rest of Britain ownership of land extends only to the [[High water mark]], and [[The Crown]] is deemed to own what lies below it, in [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]] it extends to the lowest Spring ebb.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.udallaw.com/|title=S.O.U.L.|access-date=13 November 2016}}{{unreliable source?|date=August 2023}}</ref>{{better source needed| date= August 2023}}
Where the foreshore is owned by the Crown the public has access below the line marking [[high tide]].

In Greece, according to the L. 2971/01, the foreshore zone is defined as the area of the coast which might be reached by the maximum climbing of the waves on the coast (maximum wave run-up on the coast) in their maximum capacity (maximum referring to the “usually maximum winter waves” and of course not to exceptional cases, such as tsunamis etc.). The foreshore zone, apart from the exceptions in the law, is public, and permanent constructions are not allowed on it.

As with the dry sand part of a beach, legal and political disputes can arise over the ownership and public use of the [[foreshore]]. One recent example is the [[New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy]] involving the [[Aboriginal land claims|land claims of the Māori people]].<ref name="Walking Access in New Zealand"/> However, the [[Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011]] guarantees free public access.<ref name="TVNZ">{{cite web|title=New foreshore bill passed|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/new-foreshore-bill-passed-4082232|publisher=Television New Zealand|date=24 March 2011|access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref>