Gloucestershire &amp; Worcestershire


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<p>Stroud resident Katie Fforde&#8217;s latest novel <em>Island in the Sun&nbsp;</em>is her 30th to date. Awarded the RNA’s 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of her exceptional contribution to romantic fiction, if you haven&#8217;t thumbed one of her thrillers, you&#8217;re missing out.</p>



<p>Founder of the Laurie Lee Prize for Writing, and a regular star turn at Stroud Book Festival, we caught up with her to find out where and what inspires her in the counties and beyond. </p>



<p><strong>*** WIN! 3 copies of Katie&#8217;s new books are up for grabs &#8211; <a href="https://glosworcs.muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-3-copies-of-kate-ffordes-new-book-island-in-the-sun/">scoop one here</a>***</strong></p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-winstone-s-ice-cream-rodborough-common"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=winstoen+ice+cream&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8&amp;dlnr=1&amp;sei=AdrlZaT9GfWqhbIP0PiOkAQ">Winstone&#8217;s Ice Cream,</a> <strong>Rodborough Common</strong></h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/1-46.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57081" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/1-46.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/1-46-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/1-46-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I look up at the beautiful Rodborough Common from my house and I adore it when the early purple orchids and cowslips start popping up.&nbsp;You get rare butterflies and the views are wonderful, all the way to the River Severn and Black Mountains. When we first moved here over 40 years ago, Winstone&#8217;s Ice Cream Parlour was just a little shack selling one flavour of ice cream (vanilla!). Now there are dozens of flavours, all delicious but the atmosphere remains the same, it&#8217;s one of my favourite places to go and a great end to a walk or after Sunday lunch.</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-salt-bakehouse-quedgeley"><strong><a href="https://www.saltbakehouse.co.uk">SALT Bakehouse</a></strong>, Quedgeley</h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/17.jpg" alt="bakery van in glos" class="wp-image-57326" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/17.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/17-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/17-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>This is a movable feast because I’m talking about the vans that roam Gloucestershire, from Stroud to Quedgeley and places in between.&nbsp;Catch one if you can.&nbsp;The bread is famous locally, the croissants are better than many you’ll eat in France and the pain au chocolat are my birthday cake of choice. </p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-griffin-mill-yard-thrupp"><strong><a href="https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiA_5WvBhBAEiwAZtCU7xk8KQ-yrvx5pw_es7Ht7AQCJkom3BTjc8Xdk8fv7Pw3XeovJYoemxoCYScQAvD_BwE">Griffin Mill Yard</a>, Thrupp</strong></h1>



<p>This place has some wonderful shops and an antique centre.&nbsp;Although I’m not an artist, <a href="https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/">Pegasus Art</a> is one of my favourite shops in town&nbsp; It’s a magical place full of wonderful things. It features in my new book, <em>Island in the Sun</em> (although not by name.). For house paint you need <a href="https://www.baileypaints.co.uk/">Bailey Paints</a>, a Stroud institution for years. I love looking at paint charts, imagining colours for walls, and sometimes actually buying paint! I feel I need some sort of excuse to go there but once there I am happy for hours.&nbsp;And all antiques centres are wonderful.&nbsp; I think I’d like to have a separate house to fill with all the things I haven’t got room for.</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rowcroft-lashes-stroud"><strong><a href="https://rowcroftlashes.book.app/">Rowcroft Lashes</a></strong>, Stroud</h1>



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<p>One of my go-to places. Anastasia does fantastic brows and lash extensions. I fell asleep when I had mine done it was so relaxing.&nbsp;There is no extra weight on your lashes, you just look natural but better. It took an hour and I slept through the process.&nbsp; Combining a nap with a beauty treatment is the perfect combination for me, especially as I was brought up with the belief that you had to suffer to be beautiful.</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wholly-gelato-gloucester-quays"><a href="https://www.whollygelato.co.uk">Wholly Gelato</a>, Gloucester Quays</h1>



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<p>It&#8217;s another ice cream parlour, but I can&#8217;t miss out Wholly Gelato. Based on a farm near Gloucester, and also at Gloucester Food Dock, and the team makes the most delicious ice-cream. The farm has animals for the children to see and learn where the milk for the ice cream comes from. People travel from miles around for their ice cream fix here.</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-old-fleece-at-rooksmoor-woodchester"><strong><a href="https://www.food-club.com/pubs/the-old-fleece">The Old Fleece at Rooksmoor,</a> Woodchester</strong></h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/16.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-57329" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/16.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/16-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/16-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>We’ve been going to this lovely, friendly family pub for years.&nbsp;It has a wonderful, welcoming atmosphere, an open fire and good food, what more could you want?&nbsp; I often choose this place to meet friends for a catch up it is also very dog friendly which I love.</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-william-s-nailsworth"><strong><a href="https://www.williamsfoodhall.co.uk">William’s</a></strong>,<strong> Nailsworth</strong></h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/20.jpg" alt="williams in nailsworth" class="wp-image-57330" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/20.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/20-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/20-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The award-winning William&#8217;s in the heart of Nailsworth town centre is a cross between a fishmonger, deli and a restaurant. Although I’ve never done it, I reckon I could do all my Christmas shopping here. The restaurant has a small menu featuring the freshest fish and the accompaniments are just as good. I often buy something lovely for supper on the way out – I recommend the chicken liver pate.&nbsp; There are lovely shops in the rest of the town, too.&nbsp; Bruton’s, the ironmonger is one of my favourites.&nbsp;</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-painswick-amp-the-rococo-garden">Painswick &amp; <a href="https://www.rococogarden.org.uk">The Rococo Garden</a></h1>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="656" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/00.jpg" alt="painswick " class="wp-image-57333" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/00.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/00-800x525.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/03/00-400x262.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>One of my favourite places for a wander. Home to the famous 99 yew trees at the scenic St Mary&#8217;s church, it&#8217;s also where you can find the Rococo Garden.&nbsp;This romantic and beautiful setting is best known for snowdrops which carpet it in January and February but there is always something of interest.&nbsp;</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stroud-market-stroud">Stroud Market, Stroud</h1>



<p>I wrote about Stroud Farmers&#8217; Market many years ago and it’s just got better and better.&nbsp; It has crept out from the market place and trails down surrounding roads.&nbsp; Apart from amazing produce, meat, cheese etc., you can buy honey, soap and ceramics.&nbsp; Every Saturday morning it is filled with locals, visitors and tourists.&nbsp; I suggest you don’t have breakfast until you get there, as it’s a shame not to be hungry for the delicious things on offer. &nbsp;</p>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-dominica-windward-islands"><strong><a href="https://discoverdominica.com/en/places/72/emerald-pool">Dominica</a>, Windward Islands</strong></h1>



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<div class="wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container">
<p>Dominica has my heart, so much so I made it the backdrop to my latest book. I had an aunt who moved there in the 1930s, two of her daughters settled there and so I have dozens of cousins living there now.&nbsp;One year we decided to go as a family to see them on a three week trip and it was amazing, we all fell in love with it.&nbsp;Since then there have been many visits, including one with all the children and grandchildren. It was a nightmare to organise, but it’s a beautiful country, full of mountains and waterfalls, unlike the other Caribbean islands.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>Main feature mage: discoverdominica.com</em>.</p>
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<p><strong><em>Island in the Sun </em>by Katie Fforde is out now, published by Century.</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="667" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/2-7-667x1000.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-56865" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/2-7-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/2-7-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/2-7-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2024/02/2-7.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 667px) 100vw, 667px" /></figure>


Muddy meets Stroud’s bestselling author Katie Fforde

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