How difficult is it to lay a flagstone patio?

If you can manage the weight of the flagstones to set in place, check for level, and adjust as needed, it won't be difficult. If you have back problems, you may need assistance. Granite dust is helpful for stabilizing.

Really not difficult at all if you can haul, lift, and bend, as well as get on your knees and get up. I've done a stacked stone fence and a brick/limestone patio by myself. As well as helped load, unload, and place 3,000 lbs of river rock, collected from the Chetco River with a permit from the Forest Service. However, those were my younger years and I couldn't do it now.

Depends as others have said on your health and strength. Also if you are using flagstone that is cut into squares or rectangles or the stones that just come as they are. We used the “natural” looking ones. They come in different thickness so be prepared to level all with some sand or the granite dust. The cut ones usually are the same thickness. Your gravel looks like pea gravel, any stone walkway or patio you set will have to be on compacted gravel. Compacted gravel has sharp edges so it can interlock so to speak with the fines and other gravel pieces.

Thank you

(Sakrete has a great Sand and Bedding mix); that works great for me. I just mix some up a little at a time spread it to your thickness set your stones or pebble stones and tamp it to your likeness and you can add some dry powder in the cracks of your flagstone and spray it lightly and it will harden and stay in place. Then in a few days or sooner you can wash the area and it will look nice. Just something to look into?