Croqueteer
What is the problem with Bristol to Newcastle? If you are aware of an IMCR pilot who cannot plan that trivial route and fly it, I strongly suggest you report his instructor to the CAA.
The problem with the IMCR isn't the rating; it is those schools that see it as a way to shaft the student for another few k before he finally disappears for good like most of them do. Most of the instructors teaching it shouldn't be teaching instrument flight at all.
The route you describe is indeed trivial.
One needs currency (i.e. time and money), a suitably equipped aircraft (i.e. money, and since they are very hard to rent one pretty well needs to be an owner or a syndicate member, and few syndicates will agree on the degree of maintenance that's needed). The entry level for a "serious IFR plane" is probably £100k+. Nothing to do with the IMCR though!
One of the problems here is that most people look at things from the flying school spamcan point of view. Those planes are next to useless for IFR. But consider an aircraft owner who has bought something decent, and the time and money and a good instructor.
The IMCR is a fantastic privilege. Don't criticise it; instead have a go at the reasons why most people who paid for it can't make more than an occassional use of it.