When you go to a park or stately home, the pathways are firm and smooth
and with a light dusting of a very fine gravel. Mine are not like that
;-(

How are these paths made? Is it a fine gravel, or larger ground down
over the years, and how is the base made?

Mike, who doesn't live in a park or stately home;-)


Mike,

The paths are made using 'Hoggin' rather than gravel. This is similar to
gravel, but consists of a material made up of many different sized particles.
These different sized particles knit together over time/with wear, and form a
harder, smoother surface than with gravel. I've had a quick look and can't
find much info on making paths, but the base is usually made from hardcore and
should be about 10-15cm deep (4-6''). Sometimes instead of hardcore, road
scrapings are used (the stuff they cut off the road surface before they lay new
tarmac down and resurface a road).

I hope this helps.

Dave.

P.S. - These are not full instructions. Please bear this in mind before
criticising too heavily.