Fiona Reynolds takes the circular Five Valleys Walk around the buzzing town of Stroud — and finds it hard work, but all in a good cause.
Some 250 years ago, the five valleys that converge on Stroud in Gloucestershire rang with the sounds of industry. Mills (150 at the maximum), forges and a busy canal positioned the denizens of Stroud as pioneers of the Industrial Revolution. On the surrounding hills, a vibrant ‘horn and corn’ agricultural economy produced fat…
