Gravel Driveways & PathwaysFull Groundwork —Not Just Stone on Top
Sub-base, drainage, edging and surfacing done in the right order. A gravel drive that doesn't rut, doesn't puddle and doesn't drift into the flowerbeds. Fixed price. No deposit.
Fully insured · SEPA-registered waste removal · 9+ years back in the trade · Free site visits
- 9+ years back in the trade (since 2017)
- Fully insured — Public & Employers' Liability
- SEPA-registered waste carrier
- Fixed-price quotes — no deposits taken
- Workmanship guaranteed on fencing, turf & plants
What gravel drives & pathways actually involves.
What it is
Full-build gravel drives and pathways: dig-out, sub-base, geotextile membrane, edging and gravel to depth. Not a truck-load of stone spread over the existing surface — the actual groundwork that makes a gravel drive last.
Who it's for
Homeowners upgrading a tired tarmac or worn-out drive, rural properties needing a working entrance and turning area, and anyone tired of dragging weeds out of a gravel drive that was never edged properly.
When it's needed
Any dry-enough window through the year. We avoid heavy waterlogging as the sub-base has to be compacted properly, but Perthshire summers and dry autumn spells are ideal.
Why professional help matters
The reason so many gravel drives fail is that they were never built as drives — someone dumped 40mm chip on the existing surface, edged nothing, and it was moving within a season. A proper drive is a layered civil job: dig out, MOT sub-base, compaction, membrane, edging, then gravel to depth.
What happens when this gets put off.
The reason people call us is almost always that the small job is now a bigger one. Here's what's usually happening under the surface.
Ruts and pot-holing
No compacted sub-base means every wheel-track becomes a rut, and rain does the rest.
Standing water and washout
No drainage strategy means puddles, ice in winter, and gravel washed into the road.
Weed take-over
No membrane means weeds through the drive within a year.
Gravel drift
No edging means the stone spreads out over lawns, beds and pavements — you lose it faster than it wears.
Common mistakes we're called in to fix
- Skipping the dig-out — gravel over old turf or old tarmac fails quickly.
- Using single-grade decorative gravel as the base course — it needs a bound MOT sub-base underneath.
- Laying too thin a gravel layer for vehicle use.
- Skipping edging strips or timber restraint.
- No consideration for water — every drive needs somewhere for the rain to go.
Step by step, so nothing surprises you.
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01
Site visit & levels
We check falls, existing surface, boundary levels and drainage. Agreed final surface height with you.
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02
Fixed-price quote
Includes dig-out, sub-base, membrane, edging, gravel and disposal. No deposit.
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03
Dig-out & disposal
Existing surface removed to depth, spoil taken away under our SEPA licence.
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04
Sub-base & membrane
MOT Type 1 laid and compacted in layers, geotextile membrane laid over.
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05
Edging & gravel
Edging fitted (steel, timber or block), gravel laid to depth and raked level. Site cleaned and left ready to use.
Specific outcomes — not vague promises.
Longevity
Built as a proper layered drive — years of service rather than seasons.
Drainage
Free-draining surface with proper falls — no puddles, no ice slicks.
Kerb appeal
A clean, edged gravel drive lifts the front of any property.
Low maintenance
Occasional rake and top-up rather than constant weeding or patching.
Cost certainty
Fixed price, no deposit, spoil removal included.
Guaranteed workmanship
Workmanship guaranteed on the build.
Gravel Drives & Pathways — the full picture.
A gravel drive is a small piece of civil engineering. The below is what actually goes into it.
Methods & materials
Dig-out
Existing surface removed to a depth that allows for sub-base and gravel without changing threshold or step heights.
Sub-base — MOT Type 1
Compacted crushed stone laid and rolled in layers. This is the layer that carries the vehicle load.
Geotextile membrane
Non-woven membrane between sub-base and gravel — stops the two layers mixing and stops weeds.
Edging
Steel edging strip, treated timber or concrete kerb — the single most important detail for keeping the gravel on the drive.
Gravel to depth
Decorative gravel (typically 20mm) laid to proper depth over the membrane, raked out level.
Variations we cover
Full drives
Turning areas, parking bays, drop-kerb access — full-scope groundwork.
Garden pathways
Same principles at smaller scale — sub-base, membrane, edging, gravel.
Resin-bound alternative
Where a client wants a solid finish, we can advise on options — though our specialism is properly-built loose-fill gravel.
Rural entrances and farm tracks
Heavier-duty spec with deeper sub-base for regular vehicle use.
Residential vs commercial
For homes the emphasis is on finish, edging and kerb appeal. For rural and commercial clients — farms, holiday lets, working entrances — the emphasis is on load-bearing spec and drainage that stands up to daily use.
Real gravel drives & pathways jobs across Perthshire.
A selection of photos from our own vans, crews and completed sites — no stock imagery.
Straight answers to the questions we're asked most.
Can't see yours? Give Andrew a call on 07475 783 877.
Often booked alongside gravel drives & pathways.
Fencing
Vertical close-board, ranch-style and bespoke gates. All timber pressure treated.
Learn moreSoft Landscaping
Full garden transformations — planning, planting, clearance and finishing.
Learn moreLow-Maintenance Gardens
Practical designs that stay tidy through the Perthshire seasons.
Learn moreA fixed price for your gravel drives & pathways — usually within 24 hours.
Free site visit. No deposit. Fully insured. Waste taken away under our SEPA licence. Workmanship guaranteed.
Mon–Sun 8am–6pm · Based at Templemill Farm Cottage, Crieff