Rodborough Lane, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5

Windy Gables is a substantial and highly individual detached home set in an extraordinary hillside plot of approximately 0.7 acres, positioned along one of Stroud’s most sought-after roads. Tucked into the slope of the valley and arranged across five distinct terraces, the property offers not only generous internal space but also a richly varied garden a haven for both people and wildlife, with breathtaking views stretching across the valley.

The house provides over 2,100 sq ft of accommodation across two floors, with a layout that is both practical and full of character. The main entrance is via a useful porch, which offers excellent storage for coats, hats and wellies. On the ground floor, two interconnecting reception rooms lie to the front of the house, while at the rear is a well-appointed kitchen with a utility area neatly set to one side. To the side of the house, a spacious living room with a wood burner opens into a bright conservatory that looks out across the garden and beyond.

Upstairs, the four double bedrooms have all been carefully positioned to enjoy far-reaching views over the valley. Three are dual aspect, filling the rooms with natural light and framing ever-changing scenes across the Stroud landscape. A separate office provides space for home working, while the principal bedroom features built-in storage and an en suite shower room. A family bathroom completes the first floor.

Beneath the house lies a versatile workshop at basement level, accessed externally — ideal for storage, creative use or hobbies. A private driveway leads to a detached double garage, and additional features include a summer house, greenhouses, a small shed, and a stone outbuilding with a former aviary, now serving as a woodshed. Solar panels, owned outright, contribute to the home’s energy efficiency.

The private gardens are a true highlight. Set over five terraces carved into the hillside, each level has its own distinct character and purpose. The first includes the garage, workshop, greenhouses, raised beds, a pond and orchard. The second surrounds the house with lawns and seating areas. The third features vegetable beds and a summer house, while the fourth contains a raspberry cage, gooseberry bushes, and damson and apple trees. The fifth terrace is a peaceful, uncultivated stretch of woodland — complete with a bonfire site and arguably the finest views of all.

Over the years, the upper pasture has supported occasional grazing by a neighbour’s sheep, goats and alpacas. A temporary fence currently divides terraces two and three, but this could easily be removed to restore the open flow of the land.

Only half in jest, the current owners refer to Windy Gables as a “private nature reserve with a four-bedroom house and garden attached.” The land is home to four species of orchid and is regularly visited by roe and muntjac deer, foxes and badgers. The property forms a quiet ecological corridor, linking seamlessly with Rodborough Common and the National Trust woodland that begins just beyond the garden’s upper edge.