Gravel, paving stones or something else?

[temba]

Currently in the process of purchasing a house (old 1850's character property) which has no garden but a fair sized courtyard with lovely views and traditional old stone walls. However, courtyard base is currently horrible concrete with several weedy and moss covered areas - it has been neglected for years. Drainage seems fine - have been informed the area never floods.

Am wondering whether to gravel the base or have it paved or is there another alternative I haven't thought of? Any ideas and pictures if you've done something similar would be greatly appreciated. We have a dog who will no doubt sometimes use the area for toileting so need to allow for this. Thanks for any feedback and thoughts.

Gravel looks nice but is horrible to walk on , so if it’s for walking on I would pave it with something nice ? Maybe sandstone?

With maybe a gravel area for dog toileting so it can be rinsed through if necessary .

We have stones in our back garden and I DETEST them. They look beautiful but they end up everywhere they shouldn’t: the flowerbeds, the lawn, the patio… I know you won’t have this problem in a small area, but they move terribly and you end up with uneven patches. They hurt your feet when you step on them unsuspectingly! I told my husband at the weekend I am never ever ever having them again when we move!

Could you pave it with lovely sandstone/ York stone and leave a few small stones out round the edge to plant climbing plants/ small shrubs into?

If cats come into the equation, then gravel will most likely end up as a giant litter tray.

That said, I love a gravel path, have put loads into our garden here (400 year old rural property) and have never had an issue.....but then we only have a couple of close-ish neighbours and the one who has cats keeps them away because of our dog. Our flowerbeds have an edging to them so the gravel can't easily migrate.

We've also made a gravel 'patio' area in one part of the garden adjacent to the house - partly for the cost (it was approximately a tenth of the price of stone paving) and also for security reasons - and don't experience problems walking on it.

In a walled courtyard I think I'd go for sandstone or similar natural paving though, in a colour to complement the walls but leaving a few areas for planting. Alternatively brick paviers in a rustic finish (or better still old ones) could look lovely. We found a few here and have laid them in a small circle big enough for a bistro set.

Greatly appreciate the feedback, thank you. Think I'm leaning towards the sandstone route - will do some researching on cost.

I've got gravel. I hate it with a passion!