Original sentence: In the Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden; and also in Scotland it may take the form of general public rights which are sometimes codified in law.In the USA hiking access to true wilderness areas is encouraged, but the rights of a property owner to control access to private lands is generally respected, with exceptions for beach access and other easement rights that can be negotiated between government entities and owners to allow access to lands of unusual merit.The access is ancient in parts of Northern Europe and has been regarded as sufficiently basic that it was not formalised in law until modern times
Edited sentence: In the Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden; and also in Scotland it may take the form of general public rights which are usually codified in law.In the USA public access to true wilderness areas is encouraged, but the rights of a property owner to control access to private lands is generally respected, with exceptions for beach access and other easement rights that can be negotiated between government entities and owners to allow access to lands of unusual merit.The right is very ancient in this area and has been regarded as so basic that it was not formalised in law until modern times