Paths need sensitive treatment in their construction and repair if they are to blend into a rural or wild landscape. Path workers need to build variation and irregularity into path surfaces, edges, drains and other features. Avoid straight ditches, path edges or revetments where possible. Paths constructed of imported aggregate on a geotextile base inevitably result in a path of uniform width, texture and colour, unless a conscious effort is made to build in variation.
Surfacing
Most unsealed surfacing materials weather with time until the surface is hardly noticed as being imported. Local supplies from borrow pits and stream beds not only have a better chance of blending with the surroundings, but have a more variable colour and texture than commercial supplies. It is the uniformity of a newly made surface that strikes the eye.
Sealed surfaces such as Tarmac and concrete have a uniform texture and colour which makes them obtrusive in the countryside. The appearance can be improved slightly by rolling chippings into the surface of Tarmac and roughening concrete before it sets, but both materials should be avoided if at possible. The colour of concrete is slightly more acceptable than Tarmac, but it is an awkward material to deal with if it starts to break up.
Edging
Avoid using an edging to contain surfacing material, as it will show as a hard line, noticeable even after vegetation partly covers it because of the inevitable straightness of the path. These edgings, (e.g. railway sleepers), are only necessary where the path has to be raised, for example above a high water table. In all other cases, it should be possible either to simply roll the surfacing into place, or excavate and fill to form the path. Except for temporary edgings in restoration schemes, do not place edgings merely to keep walkers on the path as such edgings are not only ugly, but ineffective.
Artifacts
The workmanship seen in the surfaces, walls, stiles and bridges of many old paths is part of their attraction. Most involve time consuming methods, using local materials. Fortunately, this is the type of work most suited to voluntary effort. Modern materials have uses, particularly in ground restoration, but they are then usually covered by soil and vegetation.
Use of traditional materials, however, is not a guarantee of good design, and anything that resembles the ‘gardenesque’ is inappropriate in the countryside. Artifacts must be functional, simple and robust, with no embellishments. Any that are not functional are unnecessary, anything complicated is inappropriate, and anything not robust enough to stand weather and use is a waste of effort. The following illustrations are some examples of the ‘gardenesque’ seen on rural paths.
