Surfacing

Most paths have developed on surfaces that are resistant to a certain amount of trampling. Examples are paths on grassland, beaten earth paths through woodland and mountain paths on rock. Where unavoidable, paths cross peat bogs, marshes or sand dunes which are unstable and easily damaged by trampling. The addition or replacement of surfacing material becomes necessary either when the natural surface is damaged or destroyed by more use than its natural structure can bear, or where an unstable material needs protecting and strengthening.