Path and patio construction

[Jack D]

Pedestrian Path and patio in Stonemarket Millstone flags. Random pattern. Clay soil gentle slope away from house, patio will be made up on outer edge appx 200mm.
Stonemarket brochure recommends millstone flags on 25mm wet mortar, 25mm sand, 100mm hardcore. Builder suggests 50mm dry lean mix, 75mm MOT Type 2, on Terram.
Q1. Don't want to overspecify but don't want problems. Value your comments on wet verses dry construction for Millstone flags.
Q2. Edging. Am unsure whether the above 2 construction methods require edging (I would use brick) to stop path materials being eroded by water etc. Stonemarket no help.
Q3. Millstone being laid in random pattern. Path is curved v similar to the illustration in 'plans to order' section. Want to cut as few flags as possible. How is this best achieved? I am considering brick banding across path to help with curve. Would it be better to restrict flag sizes to 3 types on path with full random pattern on patio. Would value your tips on this.
Q4. The patio will surround an old well. Have you dealt with construction around a well before? Is there anything I should be wary of? Paving up to well brickwork (not in the best of condition) or brick on edge around the base sloped to take water away.
Sorry 4 questions it is such a relief to be able to ask someone with experience.

[Tony McC]

1 - mortar on sand on sub-base is a bollocks construction, but at least the good people at Stonemarket have stopped the bloody stupid recommendation of spot bedding. In another 4 or 5 years, I might be able to convince them of the genuinely "best" construction, which, odd as it must seem to the Stonemarketeers, is the very same construction recommended in the relevant British Standard!

Don't like wet mortar beds - too messy and too many problems with "picture framing". I prefer semi-dry, but I know that can be difficult if you;re not used to bedmaking. Most DIYers find a mosit mix to be the easiest.

2 - Edgings are optional. If you lay on a 30-50mm bed of 10:1 sand/cement, groundwater will not scour the bed.

3 - impossible to say without seeing a layout plan.

4 - Yep - done a few wells, including one that was/is over 150m deep. Rule number 1: don't fall in! If the well has a parapet, use an edge course to bring the required cuts away from the face of the masonry.