We can help you find the right trackway or access mat for your project in under a minute.
Whether it's a festival, construction site, utilities project or rural estate — the right ground protection system depends on your ground conditions, vehicle loads and project type. Use our interactive guide or get in touch directly.
Choosing the right temporary access solution is a critical decision for any project manager, event organiser, or site foreman. Whether you are moving a 200-tonne crane across a boggy field or ensuring thousands of festival-goers don't turn a park into a mudbath, the choice between trackway hire UK and ground protection mats hire can dictate the success of your operation.
At Notus Ground Safe, we have delivered over 10,000 projects across two decades, and the most common question we encounter is: "Do I need trackway or ground protection mats?" While the terms are often used interchangeably, they serve distinct technical purposes. This guide provides a comprehensive comparison to help you select the most cost-effective and safe solution for your specific site conditions.
To make an informed choice, it is first necessary to understand the fundamental differences in engineering and application between these two systems.
Ground protection mats are typically lightweight, versatile panels made from High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). They are designed primarily to provide safe passage for pedestrians and light-to-medium vehicles. These mats are highly flexible, allowing them to follow the contours of the ground, making them ideal for protecting sensitive turf, lawns, or heritage sites.
Temporary trackway refers to a heavy-duty, interlocking system designed for extreme load-bearing requirements. These panels are often thicker and more rigid, engineered to create a stable "floating" road over soft or waterlogged ground. Trackway is the essential choice for heavy plant machinery, HGV access, and long-term construction projects where ground stability is compromised.
The primary differentiator between these two solutions is the weight they can safely support. Using the wrong product doesn't just risk ground damage; it risks vehicle entrapment and site-wide delays.
When calculating your requirements, always consider the "worst-case" load. A delivery truck may weigh 20 tonnes when empty but over 40 tonnes when fully loaded.
The logistics of getting the equipment on and off your site will also influence your choice.
Ground protection mats are often designed for "man-handling." With integrated hand-holes and weights typically ranging from 20kg to 40kg, a small team can rapidly deploy these mats without the need for specialist machinery. This is a significant advantage for sites with restricted access where a forklift or hiab cannot operate.
In contrast, heavy-duty trackway panels are considerably heavier and more robust. These require professional installation using specialised lifting equipment. At Notus Ground Safe, our professional installation and removal services ensure that your trackway is laid correctly, secured with heavy-duty connector plates, and removed efficiently, leaving the site tidy and the ground underneath protected.
In the UK, weather is the biggest variable. On soft, waterlogged soil, a light mat may "sink" or "creep" under the pressure of repeated vehicle passes. For these conditions, the interlocking nature of a trackway system is superior. It spreads the weight over a much larger surface area, preventing the ground from reaching its failure point.
If your goal is to prevent "rutting" on a golf course or protecting a prestigious estate lawn, ground protection mats are often preferred. Their flexibility allows them to cushion the impact of tyres and foot traffic without the aggressive "bite" of heavier industrial systems. We frequently provide these for estates and rural businesses where aesthetics and ground recovery are paramount.
| Feature | Ground Protection Mats | Temporary Trackway |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use | Pedestrians & Light Vehicles | Heavy Machinery & HGVs |
| Load Capacity | Up to 80 Tonnes | Up to 200 Tonnes |
| Installation | Manual (Fast) | Professional (Mechanical) |
Film and TV Production: The film and TV industry often requires a mix of both. Protection mats for crew foot traffic and heavy-duty trackway for lighting rigs and generators.
Utilities and Renewables: For utilities and renewables projects, trackway is non-negotiable for maintenance vehicles in rural, exposed areas.
Contact Notus Ground Safe today for a free quote and site assessment.
For tailored advice on the right access solution for your site, Get in touch with Notus Ground Safe.