Near Abergavenny test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 20 turns and 1 signalled junction across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 157.4 km practice loop near Abergavenny test centre, taking roughly 35 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 241-step drive on real, named roads (about 157.2 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.
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 2nd exit onto A40.
27 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.
A465485 m
Keep right to stay on A465.
A4654.3 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.
A4651.1 km
Keep right to stay on A465.
A4657.7 km
Keep right to stay on A465.
A4653.6 km
Keep right to stay on A465.
A465108 m
Keep right to stay on A465.
A4654.5 km
Keep left to stay on A465.
A465190 m
Keep left to stay on A465.
A4652.3 km
Move left onto A40.
A40149 m
Move right to stay on A40.
A4051 m
Move right to stay on A40.
A40319 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4042.
6 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.
A40426.2 km
Keep right to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A40421.4 km
Keep right to stay on A4042/Usk Road.
A4042945 m
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 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.
A4042513 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.
A465874 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 Road479 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.
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 Road182 m
Turn left onto Gipsy Lane/B4269. Continue on B4269.
B42693.0 km
Turn left to stay on B4269.
B426972 m
Turn left onto A4042.
A4042414 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-Pound159 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 Road115 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 left onto Merthyr Road/B4246. Continue on B4246.
B42461.7 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 Street326 m
Turn left onto Church Road/B4246. Continue on B4246.
B4246680 m
Keep right to take 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.
533 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.
A401.3 km
Turn right onto A40/Monk Street.
A404 m
Turn right to stay on A40/Monk Street.
A40726 m
Turn right onto Oxford Street.
Oxford Street135 m
Turn right onto Alexandra Road.
Alexandra Road99 m
Turn right onto Ross Road.
Ross Road426 m
Turn right onto Lower Monk Street/B4233.
Lower Monk Street65 m
Turn right onto A40/Hereford Road. Continue on Hereford Road.
Hereford Road870 m
Turn left onto Lansdown Road.
Lansdown Road231 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 left onto Lansdown Road.
Lansdown Road282 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Hillcrest Road.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hillcrest Road.
Hillcrest Road277 m
Turn right onto Ysguborwen.
Ysguborwen234 m
Turn left onto Old Hereford Road.
Old Hereford Road95 m
Keep right to stay on Old Hereford Road.
Old Hereford Road325 m
Move left onto Pen-y-Pound.
Pen-y-Pound259 m
Turn left onto A40/Park Road. Continue on A40.
A40474 m
Turn left onto Hereford Road/B4521.
Hereford Road385 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue195 m
Keep right to stay on Park Avenue.
Park Avenue547 m
Turn right onto A40/Penyfal Road. Continue on A40.
A40381 m
Turn left onto Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road64 m
Keep right to stay on Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road621 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4143.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4143.
A4143284 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. 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 take 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 Road3.3 km
Keep right to stay on B4246.
B4246334 m
Turn left onto Bluett's Road.
Bluett's Road138 m
Turn left onto Ambleside.
Ambleside64 m
Turn left onto Commercial Close.
Commercial Close149 m
Turn right onto Commercial Road/B4246. Continue on B4246.
B4246279 m
Keep right to stay on B4246.
B42461.5 km
Keep straight to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road602 m
Keep right to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road120 m
Keep left to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road1.1 km
Keep right to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road194 m
Keep right to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road268 m
Keep right to stay on Varteg Road/B4246.
Varteg Road740 m
Keep left to stay on B4246.
B42467.4 km
Keep right to stay on B4246.
B4246394 m
Keep left to stay on B4246.
B42461.6 km
Keep right to take Merthyr Road/B4246.
Merthyr Road377 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road245 m
Turn left to stay on Merthyr Road/A4143.
Merthyr Road72 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th 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 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.
A40260 m
Keep right to stay on A40.
A40200 m
Keep left to stay on A40.
A40204 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue10 m
Keep right to stay on Park Avenue.
Park Avenue464 m
Turn left onto Llwynu Road.
Llwynu Road155 m
Turn right onto Park Crescent.
Park Crescent272 m
Turn right onto Summerfield Road.
Summerfield Road60 m
Turn left onto Woodland Road.
Woodland Road38 m
Turn right onto Hereford Road/B4521. Continue on Hereford Road.
Hereford Road622 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 8 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 43.7 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.
Old Pandy Inn
Continue to Old Pandy Inn.
Triley Farm
Continue to Triley Farm.
Hanover Chapel
Continue to Hanover Chapel.
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.
Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Christadelphian Hall.
Our Lady And St Michael's Catholic Church
Continue to Our Lady And St Michael's Catholic Church.
St Marys
Continue to St Marys.
Gravells KIA Abergavenny
Continue to Gravells KIA Abergavenny.
Horeb Baptist Church
Continue to Horeb Baptist Church.
Crown Hotel
Continue to Crown Hotel.
Coed Wood Stores
Continue to Coed Wood Stores.
Abergavenny Presbyterian Church
Continue to Abergavenny Presbyterian Church.
Sardis Congregational Chapel
Continue to Sardis Congregational Chapel.
St Thomas
Continue to St Thomas.
St Peter's Parish Church
Continue to St Peter's Parish Church.
Abergavenny Baptist Church
Continue to Abergavenny Baptist Church.
Gateway Church
Finish back near Gateway Church, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 20 turns · 1 set of lights
5 roundabouts · 23 turns · 2 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 23 turns · 3 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 26 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 157.4 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Abergavenny test centre, not an official DVSA route.