The town of Stroud can be said to sit in a particularly auspicious position  on the edge of the Cotswold hills. Set at the meeting point of five streams and  rivers which flow steadily along five valleys then onward as the River Frome to  the River Severn, the town has been a hotbed of industrial, spiritual and  artistic activity for hundreds of years.

Today, visitors come to  Stroud to explore its surrounding hills enjoying the wild flowers, to delve into  the history of its mills and textiles, and to potter amongst the many privately  owned shops and workshops which teem with the fruits of local  craftsmanship

The view of Stroud Town from Rodborough  Common..
The Undiscovered Cotswolds
I love Stroud's geography. Other parts of  Gloucestershire are very charming, but always seem rather flat. From my study  window, on clear days, I can see the Severn and the Welsh hills beyond. A stiff  twenty minute climb takes me to the top of Rodborough Common. From there you can  see May Hill. In spring and summer, the wild flowers and views from Rodborough  Common are famous, but I love it in winter too. Even on really horrid days, it  is exhilarating to drag yourself up the steepest way to the Fort. Although it's  exposed, there always seems to be something growing, and I've heard larks up  there even in February.
Katie Fforde, author
Rodborough Fields viewed from  Stroud.                                              

Stroud has an altogether grittier character  than its gentrified Gloucestershire neighbours. The legacy of its former woollen  industry lingers still, and its economy struggles. But a lively music and dance  festival and a flourishing arts scene give it an edge over the other towns and  villages in the Cotswolds. It lies at the heart of five converging valleys,  steeply wooded and populated with a string of villages tightly packed with  former workers' cottages and woollen mills. The density of relatively affordable  housing, coupled with the area's distinctive geography, has attracted an  unusually high number of artists and musicians to settle here.Mary Miers,  Country Life, September 28, 2000
                                                     The view of Stroud Town from Rodborough Common

                                                            A Cotswold stone wall
I so clearly  remember my first vivid impressions of the Cotswolds and Gloucestershire, as I  travelled by train from Paddington to Cheltenham many years ago. As the train  sped along the single track from Swindon, across the hills and down into the  Stroud Valley, time appeared to stand still, and the villages and farms seemed  to grow out of the landscape.
The wonder of those first images is with me  still, and has been matched only by the excitement of discovering so many  beautiful poems and writing songs about the area many years later. Over the  years I have appreciated more and more the joy of living in the Cotswolds. With  its secret valleys, honey-coloured stone villages, and deep sense of history and  tradition, the area continues to be such an inspiration not only to me, but to  generations of creative people.
Johnny Coppin, singer/songwriter, The  Undiscovered Cotswolds

Steep hills and deep valleys surround  Stroud.
This is a stone wall area and that is what I  work in. I love the Stroud area because of the mix of industry and country.  Where I live it is very close to the centre of Stroud and the edge of completely  unspoilt countryside. When I walk over the countryside, I feel the depth of 100  feet of stone beneath me and I think of working with it and how it got there. I  feel part of the material I work with and what the land is made of, so I enjoy  the geological side of this area.
Jamie Vans, sculptor, The Undiscovered  Cotswolds
St Laurence Church from Bank  Gardens
Within Stroud itself, my favourite places are  the churchyard (St Laurence's) and the parkland adjacent to it. They are stolen,  quiet patches of green within the heart of the town itself, where people can nip  in and enjoy the sunshine and peace. Going out of Stroud, there is a wonderful  view from the Slad Road up to Swift's Hill, the large bare heath which is the  highest land you can see as you leave the town itself. This spot really catches  the sun, and reminds you of how close you are to the countryside.
Maggie  Shaw, textile artist, The Undiscovered Cotswolds