Near Abergavenny test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 23 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 33 navigation steps.
This is an independent 126.8 km practice loop near Abergavenny test centre, taking roughly 45 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 Usk Road. 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 multiple roundabouts, dual-carriageway joins, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads and independent driving. 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 stations, pubs, churches and named junctions, 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 Abergavenny 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.
What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.
This route helps you practise:
Road mix
The full 230-step drive on real, named roads (about 126.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north.
6 m
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road242 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Station Road.
Station Road372 m
Turn right onto A40/Monmouth Road.
A40276 m
Turn right onto Fosterville Crescent.
Fosterville Crescent134 m
Turn left to stay on Fosterville Crescent.
Fosterville Crescent71 m
Turn left onto Holywell Road.
Holywell Road6 m
Turn left onto A40/Monmouth Road.
A401.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4042.
80 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4042.
A40421.6 km
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A4042133 m
Keep straight to stay on A4042.
A40421.3 km
Keep left to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40426.2 km
Keep right to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40422.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4042/Usk Road.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4042/Usk Road.
A40421.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
123 m
Exit the roundabout onto Usk Road.
Usk Road345 m
Keep right to stay on Usk Road.
Usk Road788 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Highway.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto The Highway.
The Highway45 m
Keep left to stay on The Highway.
The Highway702 m
Turn left onto Ruth Road.
Ruth Road75 m
Turn right to stay on Ruth Road.
Ruth Road140 m
Move right onto Caroline Road.
Caroline Road88 m
Turn left onto Link Road.
Link Road90 m
Turn left onto Blodwen Road.
Blodwen Road90 m
Turn right onto Ruth Road.
Ruth Road140 m
Turn left to stay on Ruth Road.
Ruth Road75 m
Turn right onto The Highway.
The Highway748 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Usk Road.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Usk Road.
Usk Road720 m
Keep left to stay on Usk Road.
Usk Road421 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4042/Usk Road.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4042/Usk Road.
A40421.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4042/Usk Road.
67 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4042/Usk Road.
A4042807 m
Keep right to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A4042108 m
Keep left to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40421.4 km
Keep left to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40426.3 km
Keep left to stay on A4042.
A4042410 m
Keep left to stay on A4042.
A4042103 m
Keep left to stay on A4042.
A4042610 m
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A4042157 m
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A40421.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A465/Heads of the Valleys Road.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto A465/Heads of the Valleys Road.
A465875 m
Take the Llanfoist exit.
341 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4143.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143140 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
51 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road15 m
Keep right to stay on Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road103 m
Keep right to stay on Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road199 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4143.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A414377 m
Keep right to stay on A4143.
A4143209 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road528 m
Turn right onto Pant Lane.
Pant Lane75 m
Turn right onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street67 m
Make a sharp right onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road117 m
Turn right onto Pant Lane.
Pant Lane75 m
Turn right onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street67 m
Turn left onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road412 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4143.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143285 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road57 m
Keep right to stay on Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road264 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road464 m
Turn left onto Kiln Road.
Kiln Road178 m
Turn left onto Llanelen Road.
Llanelen Road128 m
Turn left onto Woodland Crescent.
Woodland Crescent182 m
Turn right onto Gypsy Crescent.
Gypsy Crescent142 m
Turn left onto Gipsy Lane/B4269.
Gipsy Lane178 m
Turn right onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road181 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road319 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4143.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143287 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4143.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143538 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A40/Brecon Road.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40/Brecon Road. Continue on A40.
A40297 m
Keep left to stay on A40.
A40646 m
Turn left onto Hereford Road/B4521.
Hereford Road523 m
Turn left onto Park Crescent.
Park Crescent879 m
Turn left onto Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound160 m
Turn right onto A40/Park Road. Continue on A40.
A40463 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4143.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143536 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4143.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143285 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road206 m
Keep left to stay on Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road114 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/B4246. Continue on B4246.
B4246465 m
Turn left onto Kiln Road.
Kiln Road178 m
Turn left onto Llanelen Road.
Llanelen Road128 m
Turn left onto Woodland Crescent.
Woodland Crescent182 m
Turn right onto Gypsy Crescent.
Gypsy Crescent142 m
Turn left onto Gipsy Lane/B4269.
Gipsy Lane178 m
Turn right onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road181 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road319 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4143.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143286 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road412 m
Turn right onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street67 m
Turn left onto Pant Lane.
Pant Lane75 m
Turn left onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road529 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4143.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A414346 m
Keep right to stay on A4143.
A4143238 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A465/Heads of the Valleys Road.
A4651.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A4042.
137 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4042.
A40421.6 km
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A4042133 m
Keep straight to stay on A4042.
A40421.1 km
Keep left to take A4042/Usk Road.
A4042171 m
Keep left to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40427.6 km
Keep right to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A4042945 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Usk Road.
124 m
Exit the roundabout onto Usk Road.
Usk Road345 m
Keep right to stay on Usk Road.
Usk Road788 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto The Highway.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto The Highway.
The Highway45 m
Keep left to stay on The Highway.
The Highway702 m
Turn left onto Ruth Road.
Ruth Road75 m
Turn right to stay on Ruth Road.
Ruth Road140 m
Move right onto Caroline Road.
Caroline Road89 m
Turn left onto Link Road.
Link Road90 m
Turn left onto Blodwen Road.
Blodwen Road90 m
Turn right onto Ruth Road.
Ruth Road140 m
Turn left to stay on Ruth Road.
Ruth Road75 m
Turn right onto The Highway.
The Highway747 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Usk Road.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Usk Road.
Usk Road720 m
Keep left to stay on Usk Road.
Usk Road151 m
Keep left to stay on Usk Road.
Usk Road270 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4042/Usk Road.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4042/Usk Road.
A40421.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4042/Usk Road.
67 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4042/Usk Road.
A4042807 m
Keep right to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A4042108 m
Keep left to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40421.4 km
Keep left to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40426.3 km
Keep left to stay on A4042.
A4042410 m
Keep left to stay on A4042.
A4042103 m
Keep left to stay on A4042.
A4042610 m
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A4042157 m
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A40421.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A40.
127 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40.
A40130 m
Keep left to take A465.
A4651.5 km
Keep left to stay on A465.
A465121 m
Keep straight to stay on A465.
A465144 m
Keep right to stay on A465.
A465215 m
Keep right to stay on A465.
A465124 m
Keep right to stay on A465.
A465384 m
Keep right to stay on A465.
A4654.7 km
Keep left to stay on A465.
A465118 m
Keep straight to stay on A465.
A4653.3 km
Keep left to stay on A465.
A4658.8 km
Make a sharp left.
44 m
Turn left.
20 m
Turn right onto A465.
A4651.2 km
Keep right to stay on A465.
A46511.1 km
Keep right to stay on A465.
A465108 m
Keep right to stay on A465.
A4654.1 km
Take the exit.
302 m
Turn right onto Ross Road/B4521. Continue on B4521.
B4521892 m
Keep left to stay on B4521.
B4521398 m
Turn left onto Hereford Road/B4521.
Hereford Road282 m
Turn left onto Priory Road.
Priory Road143 m
Turn left onto Alexandra Road.
Alexandra Road84 m
Turn left onto Oxford Street.
Oxford Street135 m
Turn right onto Hereford Road/B4521.
Hereford Road97 m
Turn left onto Woodland Road.
Woodland Road99 m
Turn right onto Springfield Road.
Springfield Road61 m
Turn left onto Park Crescent.
Park Crescent503 m
Turn left onto Deri Road.
Deri Road115 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue254 m
Turn left onto Park Close.
Park Close81 m
Turn right to stay on Park Close.
Park Close49 m
Turn right onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue358 m
Turn right onto Skirrid Road.
Skirrid Road149 m
Turn right onto Penyfal Road.
Penyfal Road15 m
Turn right onto Park Crescent.
Park Crescent513 m
Turn right onto Llwynu Road.
Llwynu Road155 m
Turn right onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue253 m
Turn right onto Skirrid Road.
Skirrid Road150 m
Turn right onto Penyfal Road.
Penyfal Road15 m
Turn left onto Park Crescent.
Park Crescent56 m
Turn right onto Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound99 m
Turn left to stay on Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound32 m
Turn right to stay on Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound14 m
Keep right to stay on Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound115 m
Turn right.
70 m
Keep left at the fork.
31 m
Turn left.
13 m
Turn left onto Hill Road.
Hill Road213 m
Turn left onto Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound32 m
Turn left onto Old Hereford Road.
Old Hereford Road421 m
Turn right onto Ysguborwen.
Ysguborwen233 m
Turn left onto Hillcrest Road.
Hillcrest Road277 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Lansdown Road.
104 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lansdown Road.
Lansdown Road282 m
Turn right onto Lansdown Drive.
Lansdown Drive106 m
Keep left to stay on Lansdown Drive.
Lansdown Drive46 m
Turn right to stay on Lansdown Drive.
Lansdown Drive8 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Lansdown Drive.
Lansdown Drive8 m
Turn left to stay on Lansdown Drive.
Lansdown Drive153 m
Turn right onto Lansdown Road.
Lansdown Road125 m
Turn right onto Hereford Road.
Hereford Road871 m
Turn left onto Lower Monk Street/B4233.
Lower Monk Street261 m
Turn right onto Holywell Road.
Holywell Road141 m
Turn left onto Hollywell Crescent.
Hollywell Crescent218 m
Turn left to stay on Hollywell Crescent.
Hollywell Crescent106 m
Turn right to stay on Hollywell Crescent.
Hollywell Crescent193 m
Turn left onto Holywell Road.
Holywell Road142 m
Turn left onto A40/Monmouth Road.
A40415 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road146 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Abergavenny · Route 12 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.
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.
Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 81.6 km of this loop is dual carriageway. Build your speed on the slip road, take an effective rearward observation, and merge without forcing other traffic to brake.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 mph). Watch for repeater signs and adjust early, examiners mark you down for carrying the wrong speed into a new limit.
Residential streets
Narrow residential roads mean parked cars, pedestrians and reduced visibility. Cover the brake, keep your speed down and be ready to give way.
Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.
Abergavenny
Start near Abergavenny.
Plas Derwen
Continue to Plas Derwen.
Hanover Chapel
Continue to Hanover Chapel.
Goytre Arms
Continue to Goytre Arms.
Wain y Clare
Continue to Wain y Clare.
Horse and Jockey
Continue to Horse and Jockey.
St Michael's
Continue to St Michael's.
Usk Road
Continue to Usk Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Brewers Fayre
Continue to Brewers Fayre.
Bridge Inn
Continue to Bridge Inn.
Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Christadelphian Hall.
Abergavenny Presbyterian Church
Continue to Abergavenny Presbyterian Church.
Our Lady And St Michael's Catholic Church
Continue to Our Lady And St Michael's Catholic Church.
Railway
Continue to Railway.
Old Pandy Inn
Continue to Old Pandy Inn.
Rising Sun
Continue to Rising Sun.
Triley Farm
Continue to Triley Farm.
Premier
Continue to Premier.
Dobbins
Continue to Dobbins.
Gateway Church
Finish back near Gateway Church, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 20 turns · 1 set of lights
4 roundabouts · 20 turns · 1 set of lights
1 roundabout · 23 turns · 3 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 26 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 126.8 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Abergavenny test centre, not an official DVSA route.