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.
[1] 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.
[2] The TRO banning motorcycles came to an end on 20 October 2021, and it is currently, once again, legally open to vehicles with two wheels.
[3] While the TRO was in place, Natural Resources Wales along with independent ecological specialists looked at the likely effects of carrying out surfacing and drainage work on the iconic byway which is notorious for its boggy and difficult ground.
The status of the byway is under constant review, and user groups are encouraged to be ever-mindful that if the route is not respected, then it is likely to be permanently closed.