Friends of Rattus from Canada are not impressed with Powys footpaths.  

Too many are blocked, the way marking is poor and it is easy to get lost. I expect many tourists find the same.

Diversification into camping pods and clamping goes well with the beautiful countryside of Montgomeryshire.  

It is an alternative income for farmers especially those that want to be ‘nature friendly’. 

OTHER NEWS:

The poor Powys County Council footpaths team do their best but have struggled with underfunding for years and have a ten year backlog of ‘issues’.  

Much of the infrastructure like oak way markers is 40 years old and rotten.  

In many parts of Europe the National Park or local authority levies a small charge per night for every visitor.  

This is at caravan or camping sites, hotels, yurts at farm houses or airb&b.  

This goes towards waymarking, footpath maintenance, foot bridges and probably car parks and toilets. 

The result is so different.  You follow a path and whenever there is a choice there is a metal sign or painted way marks on the rocks and trees. 

We need more tourists and income for the countryside. Nature improves people’s mental health.  It is worth investing in making that experience easy and enjoyable.   

They will go somewhere else otherwise. Some parks in Canada require a day ticket or you can pay for an annual permit. That pays for car parks where the ticket must be displayed.

Make it self funding and everybody benefits. It can even pay for notices like ‘Sheep grazing: keep your dog on a lead’ to help the farmers. 
Rattus rattus