THERE are a lot of picturesque villages in the Marshwood Vale near Bridport.

I think I passed through them all, without any opportunity to explore, whilst attempting to get home from Dorset on Monday.

Years ago we adopted a policy of not travelling on bank holidays, and now I remember why.

A fire destroyed a pub in Chideock, the A35 was (understandably) closed so the emergency services could do their job, and a seven-mile stretch which should take ten minutes turned into an hour-long detour with numerous inexplicable halts.

Although the sun was shining like a blessing on those gloriously green fields, somehow one doesn’t appreciate these things as one should when one needs to get back to Salisbury pronto to write a column.

Which is why, come the May bank holiday weekend, you’ll find me sticking closer to my roots.

Not that we’ll be stuck for something to do. We’ll be spoilt for choice.

As well as that perennial favourite the Cuckoo Fair, there are two new attractions vying to part us from our cash in the nicest possible way.

Regular readers will be aware that there’s a family wedding coming up next summer, and I emerged from my latest foray to the Shepton Mallet flea market on Sunday triumphant, laden with trophies to adorn the rustic venue.

It’s going to be a copper jugs/old suitcases/mismatched vintage china-ey kind of a do, featuring more than a kilometre of bunting. (Not made by me, I hasten to add. Not that you’d need me to tell you that if you’d ever seen my needlework.)

After a previous visit to Shepton, I wondered why we couldn’t have an occasional event such as this in Salisbury.

So I was thrilled to hear from Tisbury’s Janet Amos about her community’s plans for a brocante – a “festival of antiques and vintage finds” – that will take over the village on May 4.

Traders will be setting up stalls, indoors and out, all over the place, residents will be emptying their attics and garages, and eager buyers will be able to find them by following a free map.

There will also be guest speakers – including the Antiques Roadshow’s Marc Allum and award-winning theatrical costume designer Clancy Steer.

And parking is free.

It sounds like a day of extreme fabulousness, and I wouldn’t miss it.

If rummaging around in other people’s old stuff is not your thing, there’s also the Fisherton Street Festival, a Notting Hill carnival-style event celebrating the area’s many cultures with bands, entertainers and street food.

It promises great fun for all the family. I’m hoping it gives a big boost to this underrated part of the city, and if I can get there, too, I will.

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