Iconic Welsh 12.5km green lane repaired
Published: 30/06/2025
Repairs have been carried out to a section of one of the most iconic green roads in Wales after the Green Lane Association worked with a local landowner on the project.
A section of Strata Florida, in Mid Wales, has had its surface reinstated, with work carried out to improve drainage and install post and rail fencing.
Over the last few years, sections of the 12.5km road have been reported as being in poor repair, with particular problems caused by high volumes of rain water and poor drainage, which had damaged the surface, making access difficult in parts.
The problem had been made worse by persistent off-piste activity that had damaged land around the road, leading to concerns that the local authority might consider imposing a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on the route, banning vehicles.
FBHVC member the Green Lane Association, which seeks to protect the UK’s ancient network of unsealed roads, has worked with the landowner of one section to fund and carry out repairs to make sure that the route can continue to be enjoyed by all users.
“Strata Florida is a well-known route that offers the chance to travel through some of the most remote and stunning scenery in mid-Wales. The Association is pleased to have played a role in repairing it so that it can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
"This project has given us the opportunity to engage positively with landowners and to show how much can be achieved when organisations work in partnership for the benefit of inclusive countryside access,” said Green Lane Association board member Richard Price.
“We would ask anyone driving Strata Florida to do so responsibly so that landowners and the local authority can see that motorised access isn’t detrimental to the landscape and that it brings significant benefits, especially to elderly or disabled drivers who would not otherwise be able to access such remote spots.”
In total, 1,000 tonnes of material was used to repair a 1.75km length of the road, creating a level surface without ruts or holes. Infill material was used to reinstate the surrounding land, and stone was added to the surface.
Drainage channels and ditches were dug to allow water to run off the road surface and reduce water erosion during adverse weather. Pipes were re-opened, connecting to nearby drainage ditches so that water can be diverted away from the area.
Signs have also been put up reminding users to keep to the track and CCTV cameras installed at points along the route so that this can be monitored. The work took 10 days to complete – a remarkable achievement given the remote nature of the site.
The Association is now urging anyone who drives Strata Florida to do so responsibly and to follow its Code of Conduct (https://www.glass-uk.org/about/our-code-of-conduct.html) so that the route remains in good condition and motorised access is viewed as a positive, rather than negative, activity.
The Strata Florida route goes through the heart of the Cambrian Mountains between Pontrhydfendigaid and Abergwesyn. It takes its name from the nearby Strata Florida (or Vale of Flowers) Abbey, a 12 century Cistercian abbey that was the burial site of a number of Welsh princes.
