NW Highlands Croft Track - temporary surface?

Hi everyone - any budget-conscious suggestion on how to improve a muddy track that leads to our wee house over rough grazing land that has become deeply rutted and very muddy. Not going to be able to construct something tarmacadamy till finances are in better shape but need something semi-temporary.
Thanking you for any advice/photos etc

Comments

  • How about getting a load of aggregate delivered?  Or even bark?
  • Ebe_Scrooge
    Ebe_Scrooge Posts: 7,320
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    I'd agree with the previous poster.  Aggregate ("gravel", if you like) or hardcore (which may well be cheaper - though be careful if you Google for that term LOL !) will probably be the cheapest temporary solution.  Check around for prices (factor in delivery costs) - but any builders merchant will stock it (Jewsons, Travis Perkins, local independent, whatever).
    It will only be temporary, but better than nothing.  And to construct a "proper" roadway on a virgin field is going to be a fair amount of work - so you're being sensible in waiting until you can afford to get the job done properly, rather than a cowboy job that'll disintegrate after a few months.  I don't know whether you'd need any sort of planning permission to construct a permanent path/road ???
  • Section62
    Section62 Posts: 7,648
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    Hi everyone - any budget-conscious suggestion on how to improve a muddy track that leads to our wee house over rough grazing land that has become deeply rutted and very muddy. Not going to be able to construct something tarmacadamy till finances are in better shape but need something semi-temporary.
    Thanking you for any advice/photos etc

    The traditional method is getting hold of road planings/scalpings  (the top layer of road surface which is machined off before resurfacing) and just tipping them on the worst/muddiest bit.

    They used to be readily available for free, but the cost of aggregates (/and delivery costs) has changed that situation somewhat. 

    Being in the Highlands is either going to work in your favour or against you, depending on luck.  If there's work going on in your area then the council/contractor can save money if they can tip a load or two at yours rather than carting it to a depot.  If there's no work local to you then they would likely need to cover the fuel costs to haul the extra distance.

    I couldn't see anything on the Highlands Council website, but as an example, the Borders Council actively promote the use of planings/scalpings as an environmentally sound option.  Have a read of that information and then contact your local council(s) to see if they do the same.
    https://www.scotborders.gov.uk/info/20031/roads_and_pavements/618/road_planings

  • MOT Type 1 aggregate to fill in the deep holes, them MOT Type 2 over the top and well rolled. 

    You might need a geotextile under the Type 1 to stop it sinking into the mud, and if you need a better surface on top you can use a surface framework too

    https://www.groundtrax.com/access-tracks/
    A kind word lasts a minute, a skelped erse is sair for a day.
  • FreeBear
    FreeBear Posts: 14,421
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    Ebe_Scrooge said:  Check around for prices (factor in delivery costs) - but any builders merchant will stock it (Jewsons, Travis Perkins, local independent, whatever).
    The sort of quantities needed for a driveway would be very expensive. Far better to get a loose load - Quite a few grab hire outfits also do bulk aggregates and can plonk it where it is needed. I'd suggest crushed rubble as a base layer and maybe topped off with scrapings.


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  • We just completed a track in similar circumstances. Got a local farmer with a digger in to do it, who has far more experience creating new tracks than we do!
    Things to be aware of - you need to ensure that the new track drainage is completed properly, so that the new track does not get waterlooged / washed away, and need to fill with big enough material that won't simply sink into the muddy ground. Ideally dig out the soft top layer and put down a layer of terram down first.

    This is what we did earlier this year during a nice dry spell:
    Dig out topsoil. Save soil carefully for reuse elsewhere. We dug out by about 8 inches.
    Lay terram on surface.
    Spread a good layer of crusher run - ie crushed rock as the bottom layer.
    Top with type one (or road scalpings if you have access to any, ask your local council roads dept.) Tamp down well. (digger useful or it can be done with a whacker plate).
    Top with final surface and tamp down.

    We have not done this final step yet, as other works are being done. The track (so far) is nice and stable. Only issue is that it slopes down where it joins back into the field at the far end, so water pools there. We may in time extend the track and will deal with this then - see my earlier point about drainage....
    For about 100m of track cost was several thousand £ for materials and labour.
    Best of luck.
  • Eldi_Dos
    Eldi_Dos Posts: 1,587
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    Could you tell us what length of track is needing attention.
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