Paths & Steps in Walton

Walton has a good share of larger, detached plots, and with more space comes a different question. Instead of squeezing a path down a narrow side, the challenge is linking a house to places that may be some distance away: a garden room, a summerhouse, a play area or a second seating terrace at the far end.

On a long route, the path has to earn its place visually as well as practically. We walk the garden with you and look at sight lines from the windows, because a well placed path draws the eye through the plot and makes it feel more generous. A sweeping curve can lead gently towards a garden room, while a straight, wide walk suits a more formal layout.

Larger gardens often hide level changes. A plot that looks flat can fall noticeably from one end to the other. Where the drop is gradual, a long path can follow it with a gentle gradient. Where it steepens, a few steps with generous landings break up the walk and keep the route comfortable, rather than forcing a steep ramp.

Garden offices bring their own needs. A path that people use every working day, in all weather and often in the dark, should be wide enough to carry a laptop bag or a cup of tea without brushing shrubs, and it should be lit. We can lay ducts under the path while the ground is open, ready for lighting cable, so nothing needs digging up later.

Underneath every path is a properly compacted sub-base, built to suit how it will be used. A route that will also take a ride on mower or a wheelbarrow full of soil needs more depth than a stepping stone walk.

Stepping stones are worth a mention here because they suit a big lawn so well. Set flush with the grass on a small concrete pad each, they let a mower run straight over them and keep the lawn looking whole. The spacing is the detail people get wrong: stones laid to an average adult stride feel natural, while stones set too far apart turn a stroll into a series of hops. We lay a few out loose first so you can walk the line before anything is fixed.