Lakes Gates, Julian’s Road, Julian’s Bridge… I was confused: where was I?

I’d come to Dorset early the previous day (Tuesday) and had a good morning’s trading at the lovely Farmer Palmer’s car boot in Organford. While in the area, I’d visited Kingston Lacy and joined the National Trust for a year before going on to overnight at a family member’s.

Checking the internet for car boot sales on in the area on a Wednesday, it came up with Lakes Gates (bizarrely on Wimborne Market’s website) BH21 1EF and Julian’s Road BH21 3DH and Julian’s Bridge.  Wednesday morning, I set the sat nav for Lakes Gates but en route, I saw a big sign on a roundabout, one I’d seen before. Well signposted, on a main road, surely this one had to be well attended, right? I decided to stop off there instead.

After being directed to my pitch, I looked around… and spotted a friendly face from Ford! It turned out to be Chris’s first time here as well. Where were we? I asked. Wimborne, apparently.

Later, I asked several buyers which car boot we were at and got a different answer each time. So I decided to ask one of the guys on the gates. It turns out that the official name is Lakes Gates, but it is on Julian’s Road and Julian’s Bridge is nearby. The landowners also own the land on which Wimborne Market is run, hence Lakes Gates appearing on Wimborne Market’s website.

It was a beautiful sunny day, the sort that should have the buyers out in droves. Sadly it was not to be the case. They came in dribs and drabs and mostly it was 10p here and 50p there. Chris too reported a disappointing day. It was the first car boot of the season, which in my neck of the woods often means a huge turnout, but it seems that in Dorset the season doesn’t really get going until the arrival of the holiday makers. Would I go again? Maybe, but later in the year.