8 Garden paths
Paths for feet, barrows and bikes in gardens and parks: loose gravel, self-binding gravel, decomposed granite and stepping stones, plus the edges and steps that keep them in place.
- 8.1Loose gravel pathLoose stones on a firm base. Cheap and quick, but the stones move: not for wheelchairs or slopes.
- 8.2Self-binding gravel pathCrushed gravel with its fines and a little clay, laid damp and compacted until it sets firm. The palace and park path.
- 8.3Decomposed granite pathWeathered granite grit and fines, compacted. The same idea as 8.2, from granite.
- 8.4Stepping-stone and slab pathsSlabs or flat stones, each bedded on sand, in a lawn, in gravel or in planting.
- 8.5Path edging and weed controlEdges that hold the gravel in, a separating layer underneath, and wear that keeps weeds down.
- 8.6Steps and slopes on pathsHow steep a gravel path can be, and how to build steps where it is steeper.
Choose the surface
| Surface | Material | Wheels, wheelchairs | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose gravel (8.1) | 4–8 mm or 8–16 mm on a base | No (gov.uk) | Gentle only |
| Self-binding gravel (8.2) | 0–8 mm or 0–11 mm with fines and some clay | Yes, when firm and compacted | Under 5 %, never over 8 % |
| Decomposed granite (8.3) | 0–8 mm granite fines | Yes, when firm and compacted | Under 5 %, never over 8 % |
| Stepping stones (8.4) | Slabs on 0–4 mm sand | No, gaps between stones | Gentle; steps beyond (8.6) |
| Paving (3.1, 3.3, 3.4) | Pavers on 0–4 mm sand on 0–32 mm | Yes | Steeper than gravel |
Gravel and loose surfaces are cheap, quick and let rain soak in, but “Gravel will scatter or form waves” and loose gravel is “Not suitable for wheel-chairs” (UK Government). A firm path for wheels needs “Crushed rock (rather than uncrushed gravel)” with a full range of sizes including fines (USDA Forest Service): that is 8.2 and 8.3. Slope limits: USDA Forest Service trail guidance.
How wide
| Path | Width | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Side path, one person | 0.45–0.9 m | NParks; UF Master Gardener 30–36 in |
| Main garden path | at least 0.9–1.2 m | NParks 0.9 m; UF 3 ft for more than one person; UF Master Gardener 48 in |
| Path to a front door | at least 900 mm | UK Approved Document M |
| Wheelchair turning, two side by side | 1.5–2 m | NParks; Scottish path guidance 1.5 m and up |
Water is what breaks a gravel path
An unbound path is held together only by its own fines and its edges. Water standing on it softens the fines, and water running down it washes them out: unbound surfaces are “very susceptible to being washed out by water” (Paths for All). So every path in this chapter is built a little above the ground beside it, with a fall of about 2–4 % to the side, and steps or a firmer surface where it gets steep. The base under the gravel is the same as under a patio (3.1). Driveways and parking are in chapter 7. Every page cites its sources at the bottom; all are universities, extension services, public bodies or charities.
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