Thames Valley Antiques Dealers Association's three-day event next week is on a trail through Oxfordshire, writes SYLVIA VETTA

Is your carriage in the driveway and are your camels well fed and ready to pull it because however you choose to travel, the next exhibition is ten minutes away. That is the premise at the heart of the Thames Valley Antiques Dealers Association's (TVADA) three-day event next week.

Six members with spacious and interesting buildings have invited 25 guest exhibitors to share them for three days. The venues chosen are fairly close together - Dorchester, Wallingford, Huntercombe, Milton Common and Tetsworth, hence the title of the trail.

As well as AA Antiques Trail signage to guide you, look out for the National Antiques Logo. In 1998, I wrote to the Antiques Trades Gazette (ATG) suggesting that antiques needed a logo that would eventually become recognised and help preserve shops in by-passed towns and villages. The idea was championed by TVADA and a it selected a shortlist of eight from over sixty submissions. The ATG readership duly voted in large numbers and the winner was Mike Rhodes's design of an chosen., who as well as trading in antiques, designed logos for WH Smith and Esso. However,His elegant A on an ionic column was chosen. But when Gloucestershire County Council tried to use it on approaches to towns with significant antiques businesses. The proposal was stopped by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions objected. Eventually, a new design of a The bureaucrats eventually agreed in principal to an Antiques Logo but they must choose it! TVADA and I and the ATG readers took four months to make our selection; it has taken them ten years and their choice is candelabra was selected.

Harvey Ferry, of Country Seat at Huntercombe, immediately applied to have it on their brown sign and Harvey told me: "It has taken nine months but it is at last in place on the A4130!"

Whichever sign you follow, it will be worth it at the other end. The venues are as varied as the stock. Let us begin in Dorchester.

Many readers have seen Jonty Hearnden, of Cash in the Attic, who is using the trail to re-launch his business, situated opposite the abbey, as Dorchester Antiques and Interiors. TVADA are supporting the Valued at Oxfam Campaign.

If you have something of value to donate, Oxfam will ask volunteer experts like him to help convert it into cash by selling it at the best possible price.

"It is an original way to contribute to Oxfam's poverty-reducing work around the world," said Jonty. In Queen Street, the internationally known firm of Hallidays is hosting six guest exhibitors with fine art, jewellery, art nouveau and art deco, treen, pottery and barometers.

Just three miles away, in Wallingford, Summers Davis will open their fabulous Queen Anne showrooms to guests with clocks and marine watercolours and collectibles. You can still walk the town's fortifications built by the Saxon King Alfred.

In those days Wallingford had a mint. When it closed and coins were scarce the local tradesmen issued tokens. Graham Wells, of Summers Davis, said: "We have put a fantastic collection together of local trade tokens from the 17th century, from those used at local inns to rope- makers, and everything in between."

Three miles from Wallingford towards Henley is a hidden gem, the medieval tithe barn that is Country Seat. Facing you, as you enter, are two heads from the Sheldonian Theatre and an amazing sculpture by the Zhou brothers who fled China after the Tiananmen Square massacre.

William Clegg explained: "Solid Romance was bought from Parnham, Dorset, where John Makepeace, the furniture designer, had lost a chestnut tree in the great storm. He commissioned the 7m high carving and it has caused more mirth at the Country Seat than any other arrival."

Their guests are bringing fine art, textiles, Scandinavian silver jewellery, oak and curiosities to add to Country Seat's arts and crafts and Whitefriars' glass.

Showing for the first time in Oxfordshire is a collection of Martin Brothers Pottery. The first British Studio Potters were passionate and eccentric and have spawned avid enthusiasts throughout the world.

Lassco's are a welcome recent arrival to our county. They pioneered architectural reclaim in their Vauxhall premises. The firm acquired The Three Pigeons on the corner of London Road in Milton Common where they will host dealers with carpets, furniture, glass, beds and mirrors.

You will be well watered on the trail but by then you may be ready for lunch. Only a mile away Derek Muircroft, the award-winning chef at the Swan at Tetsworth, has created a special two-course TVADA menu for £15 and three-courses with coffee for £18. Visitors to four or more of the venues over the three days can enter a prize draw to win a case of wine.

As well as dealers, there are some services represented.

Unimark at Lassco's will demonstrate their DNA marking system to protect your antiques. James Smith, the furniture restorer and his wife, Lisa, who is a designer goldsmith, will be at Country Seat.

This trail should provide a delightful weekend exploring two historic towns and six venues that are worth the visit even without the guests contributing variety and specialist expertise. Entry and ample parking are, of course, free.

For a free map contact TVADA on 01993 882420, or email Tamesis @tvada.co.uk. The event is on April 25-27, Friday and Saturday, 10am-6pm, and Sunday, 10am-5pm. Visit www.oxfam.org.uk/valued for more details.