This page provides background information and technical resources relating to Unclassified County Roads (UCRs) in the Lower Wye Valley area. It has been developed to support stakeholders interested in the management of unsealed routes within the Wye Valley. The page brings together key documents, route information, and frequently asked questions to help improve understanding of the legal status, use and management of these routes. This page is informational only and does not represent an agreed strategy or policy position. |
Unclassified County Roads (UCRs), informally referred to as “Green Lanes”, are minor public highways maintained by the local highway authority and recorded on the authority’s List of Streets.
UCRs are often:
|  Glynwood Road, Tintern |
UCRs are legally open to all classes of traffic, unless specific restrictions have been imposed.
That means:
However, surface condition and accessibility vary greatly. A UCR may be legally drivable, but impassable in practice due narrow sections, overgrowth, or surface degradation.
The origins of UCRs date back centuries. Many are historic routes, once used for livestock, carts, or local travel. They were recorded by county councils in the early 20th century when responsibility for roads was transferred from parishes to county authorities. During the definitive mapping of public rights of way in the 1950s, UCRs were left off the legal map of footpaths, bridleways and byways, remaining part of the highway network.
| Feature | UCRs | Public Rights of Way (PROW) |
| Legal status | Public highway | Public right of way |
| Access | All users including motor vehicles (unless restricted) | Depends on designation: Footpath, Bridleway, Restricted Byway, or Byway Open to All Traffic (BOAT) |
| Shown on definitive rights of way map? | No | Yes |
| Shown on highway authority map? | Yes | Not always |
| Surfacing | May be surfaced or unsurfaced | Usually unsurfaced |
| Management | Maintained by highways authority | Also maintained, but with a focus on non-motorised access |
UCRs can raise challenges for communities, especially where:
|  Horse Way, Whitebrook |
Traffic Regulation Orders allow highway authorities to regulate or restrict the use of roads where necessary for safety, environmental protection, or to manage traffic.
| Type of TRO | Explaination | Example |
| Permanent | A long-term restriction placed on a road. These can prohibit or limit certain types of traffic permanently. | Banning motor vehicles, restricting access to certain vehicle types, introducing weight limits. |
| Temporary (TTROs) | Short-term orders used where a restriction is needed for a limited period. | Closing a route for repairs or maintenance, preventing use during particularly wet conditions, protecting a route while works are carried out. |
Experimental | Used to trial a restriction before deciding whether to make it permanent. | These allow authorities to monitor impacts and gather feedback from users and local communities. |
| Seasonal | Restrictions that apply during specific times of year. | Prohibiting motor vehicles during winter months to help prevent surface damage. |
| Directional Restrictions (One-Way Systems) | A TRO can also introduce a one-way system on a route. This can help manage vehicle movements on steep or narrow tracks by ensuring vehicles travel in a single direction. | In some cases this may reduce situations where vehicles attempt difficult uphill manoeuvres that can lead to vehicles becoming stuck, excessive wheel-spin, or damage to the road surface. |
| Partial or Access Restrictions | Orders can regulate use without completely closing a route. | Access for residents or land management only, time-limited restrictions, restrictions for certain vehicle classes. |
If you’re a landowner, resident, or user of UCRs:
Motor vehicles have a legal right to use Unclassified County Roads (UCRs). These routes can sometimes look similar to footpaths or bridleways, so it is important to check the designation of the route before reporting vehicle use. If the route appears on the List of Streets map it has been designated by the local authority as a highway. However, some situations may require reporting to the police, particularly where illegal activity or dangerous behaviour is involved. |
If a vehicle is being driven dangerously, aggressively, or in a way that puts other users at risk.
If a vehicle is being operated in a manner that creates excessive or avoidable noise, or is being used in an anti-social way. This may fall under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 or the Road Traffic Act 1988.
It is illegal to operate cars, trail bikes, quad bikes, or similar vehicles on public land without displaying a valid registration plate.
Motor vehicles are not permitted on:
These restrictions are set out in legislation including the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
If you need to report an incident, it can help to provide:
Reports can be made to Gwent Police by calling 101 or via their online reporting system.
If there is an immediate danger to the public, you should call 999.
The Lower Wye Tracks and Trails Project is a partnership initiative coordinated by the Wye Valley National Landscape to better understand and manage the network of Unclassified County Roads (UCRs) in the Lower Wye Valley. In recent years, some of these routes have experienced increasing pressure from recreational use, leading to concerns about surface damage, erosion, noise, safety and impacts on the surrounding landscape. The project aims to gather evidence, understand how the routes are currently used, and explore practical management options that balance public access, environmental protection and the needs of local communities. |
A multi-agency Steering Group oversees the project. The group brings together representatives from relevant local authorities, land management organisations and stakeholder bodies. Its role is to:
The Steering Group does not make final legal decisions, but works collaboratively to develop recommendations and guide future actions by the local authority.
A consultant study has been completed to assess a number of routes around the Tintern and Whitebrook areas, and identify potential management options. The Steering Group has been reviewing this evidence alongside feedback from local stakeholders and communities.
Members of the group have recently provided route-by-route feedback to help identify priority routes where more active management may be required, while recognising that much of the wider network may continue to be managed largely as it is currently.
The next stage of the project will involve further discussion within the Steering Group and engagement with local communities, including a public workshop, to share progress and help shape the next steps.
Meetings:
Appendices:
