The path through our garden used to be a straight line nobody walked on, alongside a muddy track where everybody actually did. I tried to correct the first problem first. It did not work. Then I read something on Yard Fixes about watching where feet really go, and that reframed the whole job for me.
So I watched. For a week I just noticed the worn patches instead of arguing with them. There was a clear curve from the back door, round the apple tree, down to the shed.
Then I dug. That is it, that is the job. I cut the turf off in sods and stacked it for patching later, then dug down a good spade's depth and kept the base flat. Wet clay is heavy work. I did it over a few evenings rather than one long day, because my back has opinions.
For the surface I went with gravel, because it was cheap and I could carry it in bags. Stepping stones would have been quicker, honestly. If you are unsure, lay the stones dry, walk on them for a week, and see what annoys you before you fix anything down.
Edging is what separates a path from a scatter of stones. I set a line of bricks along both sides, tapped them level, and that is what keeps the gravel in place instead of drifting onto the grass.
Weeds still come through. They always will. I run a hoe along it every couple of weeks and pull anything that gets ideas above its station.
Now I use the path. That is the real test.
