Composite or hardwood decking

[MrsGface]

We’re in the process of applying for planning permission to put in a raised deck coming from our kitchen with steps down to the garden (there’s about an 8 foot drop from where the kitchen door would be to the ground). Live in Scotland, so plenty of rain, although the deck will face SW. We have preschoolers and dogs and am a little bit concerned about falls if it’s very slippy. A lot of the composites I’ve seen just look plasticky, so was wondering if anyone had recommendations on a non-plasticky composite or a tough hardwood with some anti slip features?

I would personally go for a composite, the HD Deck Dual Composite Prime decking is a good product. Expensive but has a long guarantee (without checking, I believe 20 years), isn’t slippy and looks pretty convincing.

Thanks. Are they easy to keep clean?

Composite.

We're hoping to do something similar (raised deck) but only around 80cm our from the kitchen. What do you plan to build up to the decking- bricks?

Really easy, I can’t sing composites praises enough really.

Mummyshark, there’s an existing patio, but at the moment we can only get to it by going out the front door and going the whole way round. Because we’ve had issues with the water table in the past, I don’t want to set the supports into the ground. Was thinking of a concrete post, and then bolting the supports on. Now sure how that would work though.

We used Millboard decking and are delighted with it.
Looks very realistic.
Contractor said it was very easy to work with.
Has special screws which disappear once screwed in so doesn't spoil the look.
They will send samples - it was comparing their samples to others which convinced us to go for it.
Not cheap but still looking good.
Not slippy when wet though it can be if it's a heavy frost/snow, but then so can paving in those conditions.
www.millboard.co.uk
I'd never heard of it until it was mentioned by someone on here.

The Millboard does look nice. Can it be used as fencing round the deck too? Don’t particularly want glass as it would be too high maintenance

By fencing, I mean balustrades. Just something to keep us from toppling off the edge!

Apologies @ MrsGface.
I've just picked up this thread and your question.
I would suggest that the Millboard wouldn't be suitable for use as a balustrade as it is only "woodgrained" on one side.
The underside is just flat composite and therefore not particularly attractive.
It is fairly easy to screw stuff into it though, so a balustrade kit from some other company could work.
We just have a few fairly hefty planters positioned at our precipice to deter any potential Kami kaze visitors from throwing themselves off it.

That Millboard looks very nice.
I'd looked at some stuff online but they all looked horrid plastic colours

We used Trex on ours and it held up beautifully. It can also be stained to any color you like. They make railings and spindles/posts as well.