Surprised no-one has mentioned route selection. The OP's address shows as Dublin, planning to fly to UK: if I were him (and having taken all the other sound advice on kit etc), I'd be heading north for the shortest possible crossing of the North Channel - something I've done frequently. Look for a day with min Xwind to planned track: in event of engine failure, crosswind eats height if you're trying to glide on or turn back!. Gain as much height as poss before coasting out (dont even go if cloudbase prevents this). And in the planning stage, calculate where the theoretical turnback point lies bearing in mind engine out glide angle and wind AT THE LEVELS PLANNED and in descent. Remember, the 'glide' perfroamnce of a light aircraft changes dramatically from idling, which we all practice on PFLs, to prop stopped. Trust me, I experienced it and found it to be a 'whole nother country'!
