bdh198
Active member
A couple of weeks ago we anchored off King’s Quay Creek on the Isle of Wight. As it was near low water we weren’t able to take the rib into the creek itself. Aware that it is an SSSI and that there are large signs making it clear landing is not permitted we took the rib further east along the coast towards the holiday lodge. We made the rib fast to a large rock well below the high water mark and then wondered along the coast towards the creek remaining below the high water mark. As we turned the corner into the creek we were met by two people associated with one of the farms that adjoins the east side of the creek who then gave us the proverbial “get off my land”. I did question whether the fact we were remaining below the MHWM meant we were not actually on “their land”. The response was that I was wrong and the farm estate owned all the land right across the creek. At the time I wasn’t sure of the legal position so we politely retreated from “their land”.
Having now had a chance to look into the situation I am not sure if they were right. The Crown Estate Foreshore Map clearly shows the foreshore in the creek (and continuing a long way inland) between MLWS and MHWS as being Crown Estate and gives what it calls "general permissive consent" for non-commercial public access along the foreshore. This map look like it is reasonably accurate as it clearly shows (correctly) Osbourne Bay just to the west as not being Crown Estate and therefore the landowner being able to restrict anyone coming ashore from the Solent.
I know the area in King‘s Quay Creek is an SSSI, but this doesn’t appear to exclude walking along the foreshore (unless the recreational activity is “likely to damage the fauna, flora or geological interest” - Ref. No. 27). See Operations requiring Natural England’s consent: King's Quay SSSI
Does anyone happen to know what the legal position is with access to the foreshore in the creek? Do the adjoining land owners have a legal right to exclude access to the foreshore? Does the fact it is an SSSI restrict access to the foreshore (the operations requiring consent certainly don’t seem to support that)? Or are the signs “No Landing” simply erected by a troublesome landowner who can’t actually stop you from landing provided you remain below the MHWM?
I am aware there have been issues in the past about navigating into the creek, but this question is more concerned with the foreshore access in the creek.
Having now had a chance to look into the situation I am not sure if they were right. The Crown Estate Foreshore Map clearly shows the foreshore in the creek (and continuing a long way inland) between MLWS and MHWS as being Crown Estate and gives what it calls "general permissive consent" for non-commercial public access along the foreshore. This map look like it is reasonably accurate as it clearly shows (correctly) Osbourne Bay just to the west as not being Crown Estate and therefore the landowner being able to restrict anyone coming ashore from the Solent.
I know the area in King‘s Quay Creek is an SSSI, but this doesn’t appear to exclude walking along the foreshore (unless the recreational activity is “likely to damage the fauna, flora or geological interest” - Ref. No. 27). See Operations requiring Natural England’s consent: King's Quay SSSI
Does anyone happen to know what the legal position is with access to the foreshore in the creek? Do the adjoining land owners have a legal right to exclude access to the foreshore? Does the fact it is an SSSI restrict access to the foreshore (the operations requiring consent certainly don’t seem to support that)? Or are the signs “No Landing” simply erected by a troublesome landowner who can’t actually stop you from landing provided you remain below the MHWM?
I am aware there have been issues in the past about navigating into the creek, but this question is more concerned with the foreshore access in the creek.
Last edited: