A day in the life… Or “how much can I pack into a day?”

Is My Life One Long Holiday?

Last week, a friend remarked, “Your life is just one long holiday!” Hm, I thought—not quite. There’s a big difference between a holiday and a recce visit, and it all comes down to intention.

On holiday, I like to relax, take things as they come, and sometimes not go very far at all. A recce, on the other hand, is a meticulously planned mission, packing in as many visits as possible. Museums and historic houses become ‘whizz-rounds,’ photos of interpretation boards are read later, coffee stops are a luxury, and the brain is always working rather than just absorbing.

Every place I visit as a Blue Badge Guide is another piece of the jigsaw, another thread in the tapestry of Britain’s history. Seeing something new often helps me reinterpret a place I thought I already knew.

To give you an idea of what a recce looks like, here’s a breakdown of a couple of my busiest days last week.

A Day of Winter Gardens

I’m currently studying garden history, so visiting historic gardens is a top priority—even in January, when many are closed. I managed to find three that were open and within driving distance of each other in West Sussex.

Sheffield Park (NT)

Designed in the late 18th century by Capability Brown and later Humphry Repton, Sheffield Park is a textbook example of the picturesque landscape garden. That means it’s vast, and walking the whole thing took my entire morning.

Wakehurst – A Winter Wonderland

Next stop was Wakehurst, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and home to the Millennium Seed Bank. Had I realised how enormous it was, I might have visited here first! The Winter Garden was spectacular—without doubt the best I’ve seen anywhere—and I walked around it at least twice.

Nyman’s (NT) – A Slight Letdown

With no time for the café, I ate my packed lunch and drank from my trusty flask in the car before heading to Nyman’s. I had visited in June and found it one of the most beautiful gardens I’d seen, but winter didn’t do it many favours. The Winter Walk was pleasant, but after Wakehurst, it felt a little underwhelming. The house ruins were closed, as was the rock garden, and paths were restricted to protect the grass. It’s a lovely place if you’re a National Trust member, but in winter, I’m not sure it’s worth the entry fee.

A Day of History – Salisbury, Old Sarum & Stonehenge

After camping in the New Forest, I started the day in Salisbury with a visit to the cathedral for choral matins. I’m not religious, but I love attending choral services in cathedrals—it gives me a real sense of the purpose behind these vast, awe-inspiring buildings.

Then it was time for my usual fast-paced exploring, noting where key locations are—coach drop-offs, toilets, walking routes—before heading out of the city.

Old Sarum – A Long-Awaited Visit

Old Sarum had been on my list for years, and this stunning day was the perfect time to go. Perched above Salisbury, with breathtaking views of the cathedral spire, this English Heritage site didn’t disappoint. It’s a vast site, requiring a fair bit of walking, but worth every step.

Stonehenge – A Different Approach

I’ve been to Stonehenge countless times, but this time I wanted to experience it differently: approaching via The Avenue, just as our ancestors would have done.

Most visitors take the main path or shuttle bus, but walking in the wider landscape offers a completely different perspective. You see the burial mounds, understand the monument’s place in a much bigger prehistoric setting, and feel a sense of arrival as the stones emerge on the horizon.

The End of a Long Week

By 5pm, with the sun beginning to set, I brewed up a flask on my Trangia stove, ate my salad, and set off on the three-hour journey home after a week on the road.

Hopefully, that gives you a sense of how different a recce is from a holiday!

PS: the cover photo is ponies on the South Downs - same trip, another day. Because - who doesn’t love a pony pic?!