Your base preparation is going to be key to an enduring path.
If you can identify and solve any drainage or erosion problems before hand that is also helpful in your pre-planning. Running bond is the easiest to lay and create curves with minimal cutting. How you "bind" the edges of the brick will have a large impact on how well they wear over time. Pre-plan and layout the the site to scale on paper is also helpful in determining your rise and run of the path and any steps that you may have on your gentle slope. You can use a simple water level and a tape measure to figure out your slope . below is a photo taken at a garden in Marin County . The garden is 40 years old or so. The bricks are locked into place by the pc. of 4x6 redwood.
Chances are the sub base was compacted with some class II aggregate and then the bricks were laid ontop and compacted into place. | 
