Borley Rectory winter visits - what to expect and best practises

I'm planning a winter visit to Borley Rectory in Essex in early December and I've been reading about the location's history. For those unfamiliar, it's supposedly one of the most haunted locations in England, with reports spanning decades. The rectory itself burned down in 1939 but the ruins remain accessible.

I want to do a proper investigation rather than just tourist gawping. I've got basic equipment - torch, thermometer, basic camera - and I'm genuinely interested in whether there's anything to the historical reports or if it's mostly folklore amplified over time.

Anyone here been to Borley? What's the actual situation on the ground? Is access straightforward? What kind of phenomena have people actually observed (not the sensationalised historical accounts, but modern visitor experiences)? Any advice on best practices for investigation?

Also worth noting: I'm going solo, which I know isn't ideal, but my mates all think I'm mad so finding a group is difficult. Any tips for solo investigation safety?

Borley is accessible but you need to be respectful of property boundaries. The current owners aren't thrilled about paranormal tourism. Best bet is to do your investigation from the public footpath. Winter visits are actually better - fewer tourists, better visibility on the grounds despite the dark.

Solo is fine but bring a charged mobile, tell someone where you are, and honestly, stick to daylight hours or early evening. The location attracts all sorts - curious tourists, local youths looking for scares, and occasionally people who take paranormal sites too seriously. Safety first. As for phenomena, most modern reports are non-events or explainable sounds. The location has genuine history but separating fact from Victorian ghost story is difficult.

I visited in October and honestly, the site is underwhelming if you're expecting obvious paranormal activity. The atmosphere is interesting - genuinely eerie in low light - but that's probably psychological rather than genuine phenomena. No equipment alerts, no obvious apparitions, nothing dramatic. Worth visiting for the history and to debunk the hype. Don't expect Hollywood hauntings.

The December solstice timing is interesting for a winter visit. Some researchers suggest haunting reports correlate with astronomical events. Might be worth keeping notes on any observations alongside the solstice date. Also, bring a proper thermometer - not a phone app. Temperature variations are easier to document properly. And honestly, don't go solo at night. Just don't. It's not worth the risk for what you'll actually find.