Monks Trod
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.
Monk's Trod runs for more than in Powys as a byway across the Cambrian mountains, and then crosses into Ceredigion, becoming a stretch of unclassified road. The 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 ), Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, and a Special Area of Conservation.
In 1990, as a result of widespread damage to the SSSI section, a Traffic Regulation Order 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.
