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Green laning monks trod wales july 2013
Monks Trod is a byway open to all traffic in Wales, developed originally by Cistercian monks between the twelfth century abbeys of Cwm-Hir, near Llandrindod Wells, and Strata Florida, near Tregaron, Ceredigion.
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Monk's Trod runs for more than 5 miles (8.0 km) in Powys as a byway across the Cambrian mountains, and then crosses into Ceredigion, becoming a 1 mile (1.6 km) stretch of unclassified road. The 6 miles (9.7 km) section between Pont ar Elan beside the Craig Goch Dam reservoir, and Strata Florida passes over a natural peat moorland, designated as a National Nature Reserve Claerwen (NNR)), Site of Special Scientific Interest (Elenydd SSSI), Special Protection Area (Elenydd - Mallaen), and a Special Area of Conservation.
In 1990, as a result of widespread damage to the SSSI section, a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) was placed on the Monks' Trod, banning four-wheeled vehicles only. In 2002 a temporary TRO was imposed, banning all motor traffic, including motorcycles.
The councils are considering closing the trail to all users, including walkers, cyclists, horse riders, and horse-drawn carriages. It is estimated that it would cost in excess of £300,000 to repair the route.