UK airways
I am in agreement that IFR OCAS is usually the most expedient way to do IFR in the UK.
My aircraft is deiced with a service ceiling of FL200. Not worth climbing anything like that high unless you intend to do a long trip.
Flying from Plymouth my usual airways joining point is BHD at FL90 - this is OK for south and North destinations, but there is no real east-west option at a reasonable altitude unless you want a detour over the Brecon Beacons (no fun in the winter).
After figuring the above out another wakeup call for me was being treated like persona non-grata by Solent radar (no surprise there) at night in IMC having filed an IFR flightplan from London back to Plymouth. I had no idea that they were not aware of my flightplan.
Basic message was "stay out of our airspace we are not interested in you. Freecall en route..."
How about a nice warm squawk to make me feel welcome, comfortable and safe guys?
SB