Near Abergavenny test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts and 26 turns across 33 navigation steps.
This is an independent 51.4 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.
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, shops, churches and schools, 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 134-step drive on real, named roads (about 51.2 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.
A40415 m
Turn right onto Holywell Road.
Holywell Road283 m
Turn left onto Lower Monk Street/B4233.
Lower Monk Street47 m
Keep left to stay on Lower Monk Street/B4233.
Lower Monk Street149 m
Turn right onto Ross Road.
Ross Road80 m
Keep right to stay on Ross Road.
Ross Road346 m
Turn left onto Alexandra Road.
Alexandra Road253 m
Turn left onto Richmond Road.
Richmond Road150 m
Turn left onto Hereford Road/B4521.
Hereford Road254 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. Continue on Hereford Road.
Hereford Road346 m
Turn left onto Lansdown Road.
Lansdown Road125 m
Turn left 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 Road412 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 Road761 m
Turn left onto Deri Road.
Deri Road115 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue166 m
Turn left onto Llwynu Road.
Llwynu Road155 m
Turn left onto Park Crescent.
Park Crescent569 m
Turn left onto Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound159 m
Turn left onto A40/Park Road. Continue on A40.
A40195 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue10 m
Keep right to stay on Park Avenue.
Park Avenue211 m
Turn left onto Skirrid Road.
Skirrid Road149 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-Pound15 m
Keep right to stay on Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound311 m
Turn left onto Harold Road.
Harold Road154 m
Turn right onto Chapel Road.
Chapel Road267 m
Turn left onto North Street.
North Street388 m
Turn left onto Orchard Street.
Orchard Street134 m
Turn right onto Chapel Road.
Chapel Road77 m
Turn left onto Stanhope Street.
Stanhope Street185 m
Turn left onto Avenue Road.
Avenue Road104 m
Keep straight to stay on Avenue Road.
Avenue Road25 m
Turn left onto Harold Road.
Harold Road154 m
Turn right onto Chapel Road.
Chapel Road294 m
Turn right onto Linden Avenue.
Linden Avenue131 m
Turn right onto Avenue Road.
Avenue Road302 m
Turn right onto Harold Road.
Harold Road154 m
Turn right onto Chapel Road.
Chapel Road294 m
Turn left onto Western Road.
Western Road197 m
Turn left onto Belgrave Road.
Belgrave Road217 m
Turn right onto Knoll Road.
Knoll Road295 m
Move right onto Cresta Road.
Cresta Road164 m
Turn right onto Western Road.
Western Road260 m
Turn right onto Belgrave Road.
Belgrave Road437 m
Turn left onto A40/Brecon Road.
A40229 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4143.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143536 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
20 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 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 Road182 m
Turn left onto Gipsy Lane/B4269.
Gipsy Lane787 m
Keep straight to stay on B4269.
B42692.2 km
Turn left to stay on B4269.
B426972 m
Turn left onto A4042.
A4042116 m
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A4042298 m
Keep right to stay on A4042.
A40421.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A40/Monmouth Road.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40/Monmouth Road.
A4054 m
Keep right to stay on A40/Monmouth Road.
A401.2 km
Keep right to take A40/Cross Street.
A4090 m
Turn right onto A40/Monk Street.
A404 m
Turn right to stay on A40/Monk Street.
A40886 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.
A40186 m
Turn left onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road106 m
Keep left to stay on Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road579 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 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.
B4246787 m
Keep left to stay on B4246.
B42461.1 km
Keep left to stay on B4246.
B424632 m
Move left to stay on B4246.
B42466.4 km
Move left onto Upper Waun Street.
Upper Waun Street218 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street327 m
Turn left onto Church Road/B4246. Continue on B4246.
B4246680 m
Keep right to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road625 m
Keep left to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road115 m
Keep left to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road268 m
Keep left to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road194 m
Keep left to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road1.4 km
Move left.
109 m
Turn left onto Shop Road.
Shop Road441 m
Move right to stay on Shop Road.
Shop Road46 m
Turn right to stay on Shop Road.
Shop Road168 m
Move left onto Cwmavon Road/A4043.
Cwmavon Road2.7 km
Turn right onto Coed Road.
Coed Road272 m
Turn right onto Llanover Road.
Llanover Road1.6 km
Move left.
2.9 km
Keep right at the fork.
785 m
Keep left at the fork.
168 m
Keep right at the fork.
534 m
Turn left onto A4042/Usk Road.
A4042834 m
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 2nd exit onto A40/Monmouth Road.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40/Monmouth Road.
A4054 m
Keep right to stay on A40/Monmouth Road.
A40784 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Abergavenny · Route 7 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.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near 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 9.5 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, 60 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.
Station Garage
Continue to Station Garage.
Premier
Continue to Premier.
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.
Cantref Primary School
Continue to Cantref Primary School.
Nisa express
Continue to Nisa express.
Y Cantreff
Continue to Y Cantreff.
Bridge Inn
Continue to Bridge Inn.
Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Christadelphian Hall.
Gateway Church
Continue to Gateway Church.
St Marys
Continue to St Marys.
Abergavenny Baptist Church
Continue to Abergavenny Baptist Church.
War Memorial
Continue to War Memorial.
Gravells KIA Abergavenny
Continue to Gravells KIA Abergavenny.
Llanfoist Car Sales
Continue to Llanfoist Car Sales.
Horeb Baptist Church
Continue to Horeb Baptist Church.
St Peter's Parish Church
Continue to St Peter's Parish Church.
Crown Hotel
Continue to Crown Hotel.
Coed Wood Stores
Finish back near Coed Wood Stores, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 20 turns · 1 set of lights
4 roundabouts · 20 turns · 1 set of lights
5 roundabouts · 23 turns · 2 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 23 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 51.4 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.