Station Road, Woodchester, GL5

Walking Stick Cottage is a pretty, detached Grade II listed Cotswold stone cottage dating back to the 17th Century, with character features throughout, located on the edge of the well-regarded village of South Woodchester. The cottage is also within walking distance of North Woodchester, where there is a shop, good primary school and pub. Hundreds of acres of common land can be found just up the hill at Minchinhampton and the property sits right on the Nailsworth to Stonehouse cycle trail.

The cottage has mullion windows and is built from Cotswold stone using traditional methods and arranged over three floors. There is a wealth of character features, including exposed Cotswold stone, beams and a lovely inglenook fireplace. On the ground floor there is a useful entrance lobby with a vaulted ceiling and plumbing for a washing machine, a charming sitting room with wood burning stove opening into a dining area and a pretty cottage kitchen, also with an unusual vaulted ceiling. A spiral staircase leads to the first floor, where there is a landing, a principal bedroom with dual aspect, exposed stone walls and built-in wardrobe and a lovely family bathroom. On the floor above there are two further bedrooms, both with exposed Cotswold stone walls. From the 1840s onwards, the Stroud Valleys were a hub for the manufacture of walking and umbrella sticks and the property get its unusual name from its role in that industry. Walking Stick Cottage was once the office for the mill beside it - which made walking sticks - and still has the large old safe, in the wall by the fireplace, where the wages were kept.

The property has use of two parking spaces and a very pretty enclosed garden bordering the Nailsworth Stream. There is a delightful raised seating area right next to the stream, overlooking the mill and trees, which is a lovely spot for afternoon coffee or a glass of wine. The cottage is well positioned for access to village amenities, with bus stops giving access to both Stroud and Nailsworth and good countryside walks in all directions.

Woodchester is a pretty Hillside village to the South of Stroud, close to Nailsworth. There is a good sense of community here, with a pub, primary school and village shop/post office. Nailsworth is home to many independent businesses, selling everything from artisan bread, meat and fish to stationery, fashion and handmade jewellery. Nestling at the bottom of steep wooded hills, Nailsworth is now an attractive and vibrant shopping destination, with a large selection of interesting speciality shops and cafes, including the famous Williams Food Hall and Hobbs House Bakery. It is a quirky and friendly town, with a good selection of restaurants, as well as three supermarkets, a regular farmers’ market and a ‘green’ football club. Nailsworth is well positioned for both town and country. Climb the steep ‘W’ hill out of town and you find yourself on acres of stunning National Trust common land, home to a prestigious golf course. The town is also on the doorstep of beautiful Woodchester Park, with miles of woodland walks and secluded lakes. Yet just four miles away is Stroud, with more comprehensive shopping, educational and leisure facilities, connected by bus services. Junctions of the M4 and M5 motorways are within easy reach and railway stations at Stroud (4 miles) and Kemble (10 miles) provide main line services to Gloucester, Swindon and London Paddington.