Thinking about UK VFR operations OCAS and outside the ATZ for instance, when approaching the ATZ boundary whilst joining the circuit, at a previous unit it was common that we had to hold those VFR joiners outside and it was not wise to issue a direction, IIRC the approved instruction at that unit was "hold at 3/4/5 miles", no direction of orbit was given, if we were required to orbit then inside the ATZ, the direction of orbit was given or if no preference, it was left to the pilot.