Anyone from around Stroud?

[Kittypillar]

DH and I are planning to relocate to somewhere a bit nearer to my family but still close enough to his as well (having to do the old middle ground thing basically), and Stroud and the areas around it seem to fit the bill. Are there are any areas that we should focus on/avoid? We've got a viewing next week at a house in Paganhill (nice enough area?) and trying to book in some more if possible. Neither of us know the area well at all so we're clueless so any help would be VERY much appreciated!

What’s your budget ? Do you have children ? What sort of people are you ?

Budget is floating around the 300k ish mark. Could be more but DH is pretty keen to have a smaller mortgage. We have a toddler and currently pregnant with baby 2. What sort of people... Well, we live in Bristol right now so used to being relatively urban if that's what you mean? I did grow up in the sticks though so it wouldn't be too much of a shock to the system to move somewhere rural.

DH's parents live in Whiteshill, and DH went to Marling. Paganhill is, um, hilly - depending on how far up it is a v steep hill to walk up

I would live in Chalford without a doubt or Minchinhampton or Nailsworth . Stroud would not be on my list I’m sorry but a CHalford has a fab vibe great community great primary great walks

Haven't looked at Chalford yet so will definitely do that, thank you @Parsley1234. Had a look at Nailsworth (it's so lovely there!) but a bit unsure if we can get a place big enough for out budget unfortunately. Minchinhampton also seems very nice but haven't seen much on the market there right now. Maybe I need to look harder.

Ah gosh, that is something to bear in mind @CMOTDibbler, thank you! I'm relatively used to hills now living in Bristol but it did seem appealing to leave those days of lugging a pram up a steep incline behind me

How about a little way (West) out of Stroud - Kings Stanley and Leonard Stanley are both handily situated, and not particularly hilly! A lot of the towns are though. Nailsworth is also up the side of 2 valleys. Avening is lovely, quite rural but handy for Nailsworth shopping.
Stonehouse is quite urban, but well served with a railway station, plentiful busses and shops. Also Cainscross, Ebley and Cashes Green; again, fairly urban but a large housing stock.
Happy hunting!

Thank you @longearedbat, some good suggestions there! West of Stroud is even more ideal actually as easy access to the motorway would be helpful for DH

I lived in Randwick as a kid. Absolutely lovely primary school. You'd have to go into Stroud for shops etc. But I think Nailsworth or Rodborugh are nice as well. Chalford is far out. My mum still lives in the area and I forget how far we had to travel for secondary school.

We moved from bristol to just outside of nailsworth 5 years ago.

Stroud itself is a bit grungy (v hippy vibe with a bit of chav - sorry if this terminology offends anyone!) Although from the looks of their plans they're trying to attract more middle class hippy/hipsters soon. They're opening a borough market type thing in the shopping centre.

Minch gorgeous but 300k won't get you far. Avening nice but tiny bit out of the way much like chalford.

I struggled to adjust to rural life from Bristol despite having shops etc on doorstep really, you get so used to big retail parks and the convenience of it all in Bristol. However I'd say around the 2/3year mark I really started to settle and wouldn't go back now.

The one thing we found was it was impossible to find a group of nice streets. It seems like you have one great looking street which immediately backs on or leads onto a yucky looking one. It's such a weird area in that respect.

Lovely welcoming community feel in nailsworth, not the poshest of areas so can easily get a nice 3bed for 240kish. It is very hilly everywhere around here. Stonehouse is flat but i understand from our house viewing period a bit rough with a bad rap in a large area. Also the new housing estate near the motorway causing even more rush hour chaos.

We love all the indie shops, food markets, countryside in every direction and the community feel.

Best of luck

I grew up in the Stroud/Stonehouse area. If I was moving back I'd look more towards Eastington , Saul, Frampton-on-Severn and Framilode. It's much flatter and far easier to get to the motorway

I grew up in Chalford and have never got over it. It was the most wonderful place and I'm determined to move back as soon as I can.

Have a look at Horsley and Amberly.If I was moving back to the area I would chose Nailsworth over Stroud. There are some nice areas but would just avoid it

What about Wotton-under-Edge?

@ono did you go to school in Stroud? It was actually when I was heading back to London and drove past chalford and realised how far my friends had to travel to get into school. Archway was good then. Not sure it is now.

Stonehouse/Eastington very good for motorway and road is being widened to improve access and help traffic to new estate. Don't know what impact FGR potential move will have on the area (Also on Nailsworth obv) Villages all lovely but not sure how far our 300k will go. Distance to secondary school a factor?
Grammar schools (Marling and Stroud High) are lovely not sure how good Archway is these days. Don't know any others.

A family member lives in Eastington. Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't seem to have much going on and also, if its Cotswold stone cottages you are looking for, that isn't the place.

Frampton on Severn and surrounding villages. Beautiful friendly area and very easy for motorway. Easy to get to the Station in Stonehouse, though personally Stonehouse would not be for me.

Can’t see you getting much for £300k in Frampton on Severn. Archway is not great understatement there is a two tier education in Glos because we have the best grammar in the country - Pates. However Bristol provision at secondary is really dire hence most go private after junior or move out.

agree with @Parsley1234 nothing in Frampton on this list, budget will send you to Stonehouse or Eastington I think

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E10287&maxPrice=300000&radius=3.0&propertyTypes=&includeSSTC=false&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

Wotton is ridiculously expensive. Wonderful town though. Transport links are shite though.

Ah thank you all so much this is really helpful. We've booked in a few viewings now so hopefully we'll find somewhere that works soon.

Stonehouse is nice and handy for train and M5. www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1275&insId=1&googleAnalyticsChannel=buying