Thank you all for the very useful and informative replies. I did not expect such a massive response, so thank you to all that contributed.
So in essence, I can make up my own route on Forelight (mix of IFR waypoints and not), say at low-ish altitude (without ever going into the airways) and fly that as much as ATC allow me, and keep declaring I am IFR until I effectively land, or decide to change VFR.
I might come up with more questions and they come along, but so far I think I get the idea!
TwinPiston wrote:
and keep declaring I am IFR until I effectively land, or decide to change VFR.
Yes, but if you declare you are IFR you must also be at or above the IFR safety altitude unless on an instrument approach….
