Mowing Allotment Paths

Our Allotment Society has recently moved to a new area, which is an ex meadow. The twenty plots have been laid out with 5ft paths between.  ! recently cut the grass paths with my typical rotary petrol mower with wheels either side.

The mower doesn't easily cut right up to the edge of the plots as the two wheels adjacent to the plot tend 'drop' over the edge of the plots.  It is possible to hold the mower over the edge of each plot (ie. allow the wheels on one side to run on the path and hold the mower 'dangling' over the plot), but this isn't easy as it's tiring after a few plots.

The society want to purchase a mower specifically for doing the the paths, has anyone any recommendations or suggestions to overcome this problem?  A cylinder mower isn't really an option as the ground is too rough.

Thanks

PT

Although our paths are narrower I have the same problem as you Paul.

To over come this I set my mower on the highest setting and run one side of the mower's wheels on the soil. This works well as I don't plant very close to the path edge and my soil is only slightly lower than the path.

An alternative mower type might be one with a roller as this should allow the mower to rest on the roller and slightly over-hang the edge. I didn't go for this type as they were quite a bit dearer.

I chose an alluminium deck for longer life.

I was thinking about your problem and you could splash out on a motorised edge trimmer, I don't think there is currently a machine that will do both at the same time.
However it should be possible to attach a removable edger to the blade shaft of a roller mower, allowing you to mow and edge at the same time. A pulley with strimmer string or wire or chain attached could act as a small flail with a suitable cover.
This means you would have to rethink your options and opt for a roller mower as it is very difficult to take a 90 degree offtake from your rotary mower.