9 English Garden Path Materials & Ideas

4/13/2024

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When it comes to English gardens, pathways are not just circulatory routes but vital elements within a space.

Historically, geometric pathways would help to define the structure of a garden design. Even within less formal English gardens pathways can be meandering routes which travel through naturalistic landscaping.

English gardens are famous for steering visitors through a series of transitional spaces and experiences. From rustic cobbles to loose and free binding gravels English garden pathways can be rustic or refined.

In this article I identify 9 materials perfect for building effective English garden pathways.

1. Brick

Many regions of England are blessed with the perfect clay soil for firing bricks. This has led to a historical use of this natural and durable building material. When laid in paths bricks have a good visual texture and rustic appeal. Bricks are perfect for laying both formal and informal pathways including straight or meandering designs.

2. Self binding gravel

Self binding gravel is a type of gravel which binds tightly together when compacted with water. It is perfect for a range of applications including long and extensive pathways. Self binding gravel comes in a range of natural tones including, silver beige and red. It is often used to surface pathways within English gardens and country estates.

3. Sandstone paving

Sandstone is an extremely popular paving material due to its fine textured surface and attractive colour tones. English gardens traditionally have a preference for sandstone paving as it mimics their native York stone paving slabs. Indian sandstone can be substituted as a more economical way to lay sandstone pathways along borders and around focal points.

4. Traditional block paving

Block paving is a relatively new paving product being only around 50 years old. Primarily this paving’s intended use is to surface driveways and car ports. However its popularity has led to many new block paving styles and products. One of these is the traditional looking 3 sizes block paving such as Tegula. Its ‘cobble effect’ aesthetic makes it the perfect surface for English garden paths.

5. Gravel paths

Gravel has been used within English gardens and landscapes for centuries. In fact, it was the use of gravels upon carriage roads in Britain which led to the development of modern roads. England has a rich supply of costal gravels especially pea gravel which led to it being utilised as a surfacing material. Gravel is a cost effective and traditional way to surface English garden paths.

6. Slate

Slate is a type of metamorphic rock formed over millions of years by extreme geological compressive forces. Slate was quarried from Britain’s mountainous regions for many centuries as roofing and paving material. This makes slate a good choice for English garden paths whether in paving form or by using slate chippings.

7. Granite

Granite is an extremely durable and hard wearing stone with a clean and decorative appeal. Granite has been quarried in England for many centuries in the western counties of Devon and Cornwall. Traditionally granite has featured as a paving material in the form of setts. However, there are many granite paving materials now on the market perfect for English garden paths.

8. Setts

Setts have long been used as a traditional surfacing material around English towns and villages. These durable cubes of stone are perfect for creating robust surfaces which last the test of time. The multiple joints between these blocks give sett surfaces and unique texture. Their traditional usage and timeless appeal make very suitable for English garden pathways.

9. Woodland bark

English gardens are well known for their informal landscaping as well as their formal elements. For more naturalistic pathways woodland bark can be the perfect material for informal areas. Bark can be a great way to create low impact pathways through woodland borders or ecological planting. This is a great pathway material for less formal English garden designs.

Thank you for reading our article on 9 English garden path ideas and materials! Below I will link to some of our other English garden articles you may find relevant.

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The Author
Paul Nicolaides
BA (Hons) Dip

Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening.