Author: Mary Tebje

Clients have said that if Mary was cut in half, there would be a line through her middle that says "travel and tourism", just like a stick of Brighton Rock. Small, yet perfectly formed, dedicated too, with a keen nose for most things ‘travel', I have developed a nose for detail, for story-telling and getting beyond the obvious and over-blown, because I have learnt how to stop and listen, to notice and record often overlooked detail, sometimes that means just the silence: that is where the really interesting stuff is. Almost all projects come from word of mouth recommendation, so I must be doing something right. Always professional in approach, and most of all, I care about and enjoy what I do! I have recently launched the new A Year in the Chilterns blog which maps over two years of wonderings, getting stuck in the mud, drinking cups of tea and trying not to quash my picnics as I share my Chilterns year.

When a man is tired of London, he should head to Highgate Cemetery

by Mary Tebje, posted in Cemetaries, Film tourism, Heritage and History, Local Distinctiveness, London, Mayor of London, Museums, Niche marketing, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Social Media, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Twitter, UK

Forget the Taj Mahal, Tutankhamen's Tomb or even Tower Bridge: all grand in their own right, statements of wealth, status, conquest and achievement of the privileged elite and their contribution to society. Head instead to a place that is the ultimate leveller, a place where death insists the great and good spend eternity lying cheek by jowl with the infamous, … Continue reading When a man is tired of London, he should head to Highgate Cemetery

Who knew Hedgehogs could dominate the landscape?

by Mary Tebje, posted in Avebury and Stonehenge, Chilterns, Cycling, Heritage and History, Local Distinctiveness, Museums, National Trust, River Thames, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism

Part of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, Avebury is the more intriguing spectacle; a mishmash of the quaint, medieval, neolithic monuments, ditches, hedgehogs and druids. Thousands of years of chalk dust, stirred up by the tread of leather along the Ridgeway and around the ancient stones and mysterious monuments that dot the Wiltshire … Continue reading Who knew Hedgehogs could dominate the landscape?

Gas, Goats and Groceries

by Mary Tebje, posted in Heritage and History, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Turkey

Just why has almost everyone I know been to Turkey this year? In less time it took us to reach Cornwall, we travelled over 2,000 miles to a remote Turkish bay to celebrate a milestone birthday. We almost didn't make it, following the demise of our UK tour operator one week before we were due to … Continue reading Gas, Goats and Groceries

Cornwall really does what it says on the tin

by Mary Tebje, posted in Cornwall, Film tourism, Heritage and History, Imitation game, Museums, National Parks, National Trust, Niche marketing, Rural Tourism, Sense of Place, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, UK

For all the summer crowds, we were so surprised to have what seemed like the place to ourselves, if the killer seagulls weren't going to peck us to death first. I dug out the shoe-box of yellowing holiday snaps to remind myself of where we had been and what we had done on our last … Continue reading Cornwall really does what it says on the tin

A Year in the Chilterns

Wormsley Estate, home to cricket and opera

by Mary Tebje, posted in Buckinghamshire, Chilterns, Cycling, DMO's, Heritage and History, Local Distinctiveness, Music

Like Nuffield Place, Wormsley Estate is also typical of the Chilterns: slightly bonkers, intriguing and tucked away in a beautiful place you have probably only cycled past along the boundary-hugging Bridleway. The home of cricket and opera, not two pastimes I would associate with the same venue, but hey, that’s the Chilterns for you. I should … Continue reading Wormsley Estate, home to cricket and opera

Mills of the Cederberg

by Mary Tebje, posted in Cape Town, Cederberg, Heritage and History, Local Distinctiveness, Museums, Short breaks, South Africa, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Watermills, Western Province

This blog post is an unashamed excuse to celebrate one of the finest wilderness areas in the world. The Cederberg runs through my veins and I welcome any opportunity to celebrate it. Located a few hours drive north of Cape Town, it’s the place to go to really get away from it all. It's the … Continue reading Mills of the Cederberg

I am no longer just passing through this landscape

by Mary Tebje, posted in Buckinghamshire, Chilterns, DMO's, Film tourism, Local Distinctiveness, Market Town, National Trust, Niche marketing, Rural Tourism, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism

It’s not about bagging bucket-list miles, or even bragging about bagging holiday sights, it’s about stopping and looking for the clues that point to natural and man-made structures - or subtle signs of earlier lives that are integral to a locations ‘sense-of-place’ so often missed in the quest to capture that grand vista, or complete that big trek. The Chilterns … Continue reading I am no longer just passing through this landscape

For some destinations, food is integral to the visitor offer. For others, it’s an after-thought.

by Mary Tebje, posted in Chilterns, DMO's, Local Distinctiveness, London, Marketing Communications, Niche marketing, Retail, Rural Tourism, Segmentatino, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, UK

Why is more effort not made by businesses who supply food and beverage directly into the visitor economy to source and sell what is local when we know that enjoying good produce and local food is increasingly key to reasons why holidaymakers choose destinations in England? Perhaps this is true the world over?  Why is … Continue reading For some destinations, food is integral to the visitor offer. For others, it’s an after-thought.

A road trip in the Free State and neighbouring Lesotho

by Mary Tebje, posted in South Africa, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Twitter, Uncategorized

This short travelogue follows the discovery of a set of images taken during a trip a relative took whilst on holiday in South Africa in 1957. His handwriting was even worse than mine, so I am unfortunately not able to identify specific locations or people. He traveled from Germany by boat, calling in at Cape Town, … Continue reading A road trip in the Free State and neighbouring Lesotho

Have we just seen the real 2012 Olympic Legacy in Yorkshire?

by Mary Tebje, posted in Cycling, Local Distinctiveness, Rural Tourism, Short breaks, Travel and Leisure, Travel and Tourism, UK

The £8.7bn 2012 Olympics were a huge success, of that there is little doubt. But what of the Legacy? Inbound tourism and in particular London, are enjoying increased visitor numbers and spend, but what of the regions, what are they doing? Well, to the people of Yorkshire (sorry Cambridge and Essex), I salute you! You … Continue reading Have we just seen the real 2012 Olympic Legacy in Yorkshire?