The Top Dog

by Mary Tebje, posted in Travel and Tourism

Chiltern Hills

A day to discover what lies beneath, turned into an altogether unexpected musical encounter, as I headed out to spend a morning learning about the archeology that litters the floor of Pigotts Wood, an ancient Chilterns woodland.

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Near High Wycombe, Pigotts Woods is really tucked away in the Chiltern Hills, and if I hadn’t been in such a hurry to get to the course on time, would have found many distractions along the way to explore and photograph. The single lane wound its way up the hill with muntjac deer alongside the road which suddenly opens up into a sunny field with Pigotts up ahead.

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We assembled in the music room in what was the former home of Eric Gill, sculptor, typeface designer and printmaker who was closely associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. the music room in what was the former home of Eric Gill, sculptor, typeface designer and printmaker who…

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The Sweetest Stretch of all the River

by Mary Tebje, posted in Buckinghamshire, Chilterns, Cliveden, DMO's, European Union, Film tourism, food tourism, Heritage and History, Heritage food, Local Distinctiveness, London, Market Town, Museums, National Trust, Niche marketing, River Thames, Rural heritage, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Travel and Tourism, UK

Itching to get away from my desk and take a walk to enjoy a warm autumnal afternoon, it was a tweet that spurred me into action to head over to Cliveden Reach, between Cookham and Boulter’s locks, the fabled stretch along the River Thames. I have visited the formal gardens at Cliveden many times, but … Continue reading The Sweetest Stretch of all the River

Autumn offers up the landscape to winter

by Mary Tebje, posted in Buckinghamshire, Chilterns, Heritage and History, Heritage food, Local Distinctiveness, National Parks, National Trust, Rural heritage, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Travel and Tourism, UK

Beneath a full moon, a pink mist tumbles and rolls, blanketing the contours, icy grass and spectral trees. The chalk track is greasy and slick underfoot, catching the unwary walker. The early morning autumn sun is very low and shining straight into my face so I can’t see what’s ahead; camouflaged dog turds amongst the decaying, … Continue reading Autumn offers up the landscape to winter

Penn House and Holy Trinity, Penn

by Mary Tebje, posted in Buckinghamshire, Cemetaries, Chilterns, Churchs, Cycling, DMO's, European Union, Film tourism, food tourism, Heritage and History, Local Distinctiveness, Market Town, Museums, Rural heritage, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Social Media, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Twitter, UK

For hundreds of years, Penn House and Holy Trinity Penn have shared a close heritage, and when I visited, it was the rain that brought them together.

A Wet Week in Wales

by Mary Tebje, posted in Cemetaries, Cycling, DMO's, Film tourism, food tourism, Heritage and History, Heritage food, Local Distinctiveness, Market Town, Museums, Music, National Parks, National Trust, Niche marketing, Retail, Rural heritage, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Social Media, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, UK

This post is not so much about what to see and do in Wales, but what has been shared about Wales in the past 50 years.

A beautiful beach, birds and tolling bells

by Mary Tebje, posted in Cemetaries, European Union, Film tourism, food tourism, France, Heritage and History, Heritage food, Local Distinctiveness, Museums, Rural heritage, Rural Tourism, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism

"Don't go near the taxi drivers!" screamed the guidebook, "they're rude and aggressive". Not so, our non-Uber Uber driver, who thought that a popular Barbara Streisand ballad on maximum decibels, would set the scene for our girls weekend away. What strikes you first when heading along the Promenade des Anglais into the Old Town of … Continue reading A beautiful beach, birds and tolling bells

Tools of the Trade

by Mary Tebje, posted in Buckinghamshire, Chilterns, DMO's, European Union, food tourism, Heritage and History, Heritage food, Local Distinctiveness, London, Market Town, Niche marketing, River Thames, Rural heritage, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, UK, Watermills

The weight of history is upon Jon Tyler’s broad shoulders as one of the last producers of watercress in the Chilterns. Located in the beautiful Chess Valley that links Chesham in the Chilterns with Rickmansworth just inside the M25, E. Tyler & Son’s Crestyl Watercress farm is something of a novelty; in a high tech … Continue reading Tools of the Trade

Sharpenhoe Clappers: what’s in a name?

by Mary Tebje, posted in Chilterns, Cycling, Film tourism, Heritage and History, Local Distinctiveness, Museums, Niche marketing, Rural heritage, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, UK

I wonder how many of the declarations of love carved on the beechwood tree trunks, still hold true today? Anonymous initials, an evocative place name and the ghost of a Celtic tribal chief? It seems fitting that such a place, whilst no longer occupied, still draws visitors who wish also to leave their mark, and a former … Continue reading Sharpenhoe Clappers: what’s in a name?

Tastes of the Chess Valley

by Mary Tebje, posted in Buckinghamshire, Chilterns, DMO's, Film tourism, food tourism, Heritage and History, Local Distinctiveness, Market Town, National Trust, Rural heritage, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, UK, Watermills, windmills

Drinking before lunchtime is not without risk; needing a loo whilst out on the trail, not finding the trail, or failing to turn up for lunch on time! The Chilterns is a living, working area of beautiful countryside whose character has been shaped by agriculture, industry and the people who have lived and worked here over … Continue reading Tastes of the Chess Valley