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Practice route
ModerateLoop

Aberdeen North · Residential + A-road practice loop

Near Aberdeen North test centre

18.1 km
Distance
24 min
Duration
Moderate
Difficulty
51
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Demanding

Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 22 roundabouts and 21 turns across 51 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 18.1 km practice loop near Aberdeen North test centre, taking roughly 24 min to drive. It is NOT an official DVSA examiner route, the DVSA does not publish those, but it uses the same local roads and junction types an examiner is likely to choose.

Along the way you'll meet Parkway Roundabout, Haudagain Roundabout and Scotstown Roundabout. Knowing the approach, lane and exit at each one before you arrive is the difference between a planned manoeuvre and a last-second reaction, and last-second reactions are where avoidable faults come from.

On this route you’ll practise roundabout approach & exit, independent driving and sustained concentration. Driving it a few times before your test builds the muscle memory that frees up attention for observation and decision-making on the day.

The loop is anchored by 20 catalogued landmarks, including shops, named junctions, pubs and churches, so you can navigate it from recognisable features rather than a memorised turn list. Rehearsing it in this way means that on test day the area already feels familiar, and your attention is free for the traffic rather than the map.

Whatever the route, your practical test follows the same national shape: an eyesight check, a couple of vehicle-safety questions, around forty minutes of general driving, one reversing manoeuvre chosen by the examiner, and roughly twenty minutes of independent driving following signs or a sat-nav. Practising on roads like these is how you make each of those elements feel routine rather than new.

Treat this route as practice, not a script. The value is not in repeating one fixed sequence but in getting comfortable with the road types, speed changes and junction patterns of the area around Aberdeen North test centre, so that whatever order your examiner chooses on the day, none of it is unfamiliar. Drive it a few times, focus on smooth observation and planning, and it becomes one more stretch of road you already know, which is exactly the kind of preparation that turns nerves into confidence.

If you are practising with a supervising driver rather than an instructor, take it steadily: agree the manoeuvre spots in advance, keep to a comfortable pace, and stop to talk through anything that felt rushed. And remember the basics that apply on every road, mirrors before any change of speed or direction, signals in good time, and a following distance that gives you room to react. Those habits travel with you long after the test is passed.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

21
Left turns
0
Right turns
22
Roundabouts
0
Traffic lights
51
Total steps

Skills & features

3
Roundabouts
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Roundabout approach & exit
  • Independent driving
  • Sustained concentration

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 51-step drive on real, named roads (about 18.1 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive north on Cloverhill Road.

    Cloverhill Road106 m

  2. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Broadfold Road.

    Broadfold Road277 m

  3. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Ellon Road/A956.

    Ellon Road277 m

  4. Roundabout:

    Enter Parkway Roundabout and take the 4th exit towards A956/Harbour/City centre North.

    Parkway Roundabout90 m

  5. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout towards A956/Harbour/City centre North.

    Ellon Road563 m

  6. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards City Centre/Fun Beach.

    21 m

  7. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout towards City Centre/Fun Beach.

    Ellon Road517 m

  8. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Links Road.

    Links Road72 m

  9. Turn left:

    Move left to stay on Links Road.

    Links Road65 m

  10. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Donmouth Court.

    Donmouth Court75 m

  11. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Donmouth Court.

    Donmouth Court51 m

  12. Turn right:

    Turn right.

    8 m

  13. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn.

    8 m

  14. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Donmouth Court.

    Donmouth Court51 m

  15. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Donmouth Court.

    Donmouth Court75 m

  16. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Links Road.

    Links Road138 m

  17. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Ellon Road/A956. Continue on A956.

    A9561.2 km

  18. Roundabout:

    Enter Seaton Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto King Street/A956.

    Seaton Roundabout25 m

  19. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto King Street/A956.

    King Street1.2 km

  20. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Mounthooly Way/B990. Continue on B990.

    B990390 m

  21. Roundabout:

    Enter Mounthooly Roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A944/A90 South/Alford.

    Mounthooly Roundabout187 m

  22. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout towards A944/A90 South/Alford.

    A9442.9 km

  23. Turn right:

    Turn right onto North Anderson Drive/A92.

    North Anderson Drive1.0 km

  24. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A92/A90 North/A96.

    63 m

  25. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout towards A92/A90 North/A96.

    North Anderson Drive521 m

  26. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto North Anderson Drive/A92.

    43 m

  27. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto North Anderson Drive/A92.

    North Anderson Drive1.0 km

  28. Roundabout:

    Enter Haudagain Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Mugiemoss Road/A92.

    Haudagain Roundabout32 m

  29. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Mugiemoss Road/A92. Continue on A92.

    A92537 m

  30. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A92.

    34 m

  31. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A92.

    A92387 m

  32. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A92.

    26 m

  33. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A92.

    A921.7 km

  34. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Whitestripes Avenue.

    2 m

  35. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Whitestripes Avenue.

    Whitestripes Avenue1.0 km

  36. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Jesmond Drive.

    Jesmond Drive434 m

  37. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Newburgh Drive.

    Newburgh Drive300 m

  38. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Newburgh Circle.

    Newburgh Circle90 m

  39. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Newburgh Circle.

    Newburgh Circle86 m

  40. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Newburgh Circle.

    Newburgh Circle6 m

  41. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Newburgh Circle.

    Newburgh Circle6 m

  42. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Newburgh Circle.

    Newburgh Circle86 m

  43. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Newburgh Circle.

    Newburgh Circle90 m

  44. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Newburgh Drive.

    Newburgh Drive541 m

  45. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Jesmond Drive.

    Jesmond Drive381 m

  46. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Scotstown Road/B997. Continue on B997.

    B997323 m

  47. Roundabout:

    Enter Scotstown Roundabout and take the 1st exit towards A92/A90 North/City Centre (North).

    Scotstown Roundabout3 m

  48. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout towards A92/A90 North/City Centre (North).

    The Parkway323 m

  49. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Broadfold Road.

    Broadfold Road614 m

  50. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Cloverhill Road.

    Cloverhill Road105 m

  51. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Aberdeen North · Residential + A-road practice loop loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

These are the real named features along the loop, straight from our route catalogue. Use them to recognise where you are and to anticipate the hazard each one brings, not to memorise a fixed order.

Junctions & roundabouts

Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.

  • Parkway Roundabout
  • Haudagain Roundabout
  • Scotstown Roundabout

Stations

Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.

  • Canal Street

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • St Ninian's Church
  • St Mary's Parish Church
  • Christ Apostolic Church

Parks & green space

Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.

  • Tranquil Memorial Garden

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Brig Inn / Shish Tandoori
  • Brig O'Don
  • Bobbin
  • Butchers Arms

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Kenway Tyres
  • Co-operative Funeralcare
  • Atmosphere Lighting & Sound
  • Family Shopper

Watch out for

  • Multiple roundabouts

    Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Parkway Roundabout, Haudagain Roundabout, Scotstown Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Kenway Tyres

    Start near Kenway Tyres.

  2. Parkway Roundabout

    Continue to Parkway Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  3. Co-operative Funeralcare

    Continue to Co-operative Funeralcare.

  4. Brig Inn / Shish Tandoori

    Continue to Brig Inn / Shish Tandoori.

  5. Brig O'Don

    Continue to Brig O'Don.

  6. St Ninian's Church

    Continue to St Ninian's Church.

  7. St Mary's Parish Church

    Continue to St Mary's Parish Church.

  8. Bobbin

    Continue to Bobbin.

  9. Tranquil Memorial Garden

    Continue to Tranquil Memorial Garden.

  10. Canal Street

    Continue to Canal Street.

  11. Atmosphere Lighting & Sound

    Continue to Atmosphere Lighting & Sound.

  12. Butchers Arms

    Continue to Butchers Arms.

  13. Christ Apostolic Church

    Continue to Christ Apostolic Church.

  14. Christian Farquharson Kennedy

    Continue to Christian Farquharson Kennedy.

  15. Family Shopper

    Continue to Family Shopper.

  16. Westburn Medical Group

    Continue to Westburn Medical Group.

  17. Haudagain Roundabout

    Continue to Haudagain Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  18. Adam's Tyre Shop

    Continue to Adam's Tyre Shop.

  19. Scotstown Roundabout

    Continue to Scotstown Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  20. Jewson

    Finish back near Jewson, completing the loop.

More routes at Aberdeen North test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 18.1 km and takes about 24 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Aberdeen North test centre, not an official DVSA route.