Near Airdrie test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 11 roundabouts, 9 turns and 1 signalled junction across 23 navigation steps.
This is an independent 45.9 km practice route near Airdrie 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 James Street and Eurocentral Junction. 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 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 pubs, schools, stations 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 Airdrie 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 101-step drive on real, named roads (about 45.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northeast on Aitchison Street/A8010.
Aitchison Street57 m
Turn left onto Wilson Street.
Wilson Street272 m
Turn left onto Mavisbank Street.
Mavisbank Street187 m
Enter Park Crescent and take the 2nd exit onto McKenna Drive.
Park Crescent72 m
Exit the roundabout onto McKenna Drive.
McKenna Drive438 m
Turn right onto Mulvey Crescent.
Mulvey Crescent511 m
Turn right onto Agnew Avenue.
Agnew Avenue437 m
Turn left onto Lavelle Drive.
Lavelle Drive124 m
Turn right onto Clyde Street.
Clyde Street218 m
Turn right onto Crown Street.
Crown Street88 m
Turn left onto Kildonan Street.
Kildonan Street345 m
Turn right onto Portland Street.
Portland Street211 m
Turn left onto Dunbeth Avenue.
Dunbeth Avenue231 m
Turn left onto Dunbeth Road/B804. Continue on B804.
B804606 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Coatbank Street/A725.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Coatbank Street/A725.
Coatbank Street472 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A725.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A725.
A725236 m
Enter Whifflet Street and take the 1st exit onto Whifflet Street/A725.
Whifflet Street18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Whifflet Street/A725. Continue on A725.
A7251.3 km
Make a right U-turn at A8 to stay on A725.
A7251.3 km
Enter Whifflet Street and take the 1st exit onto Dundyvan Road/B753.
Whifflet Street11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Dundyvan Road/B753.
Dundyvan Road632 m
Turn right to stay on Dundyvan Road.
Dundyvan Road51 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Dundyvan Road.
Dundyvan Road51 m
Turn left onto Dundyvan Road/B753.
Dundyvan Road69 m
Turn right onto Barrowfield Street.
Barrowfield Street365 m
Turn left to stay on Barrowfield Street.
Barrowfield Street280 m
Turn left onto Old Monkland Road.
Old Monkland Road1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Calder Street/B753.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Calder Street/B753.
Calder Street528 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Locks Street/B753.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Locks Street/B753.
Locks Street446 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Main Street.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street.
Main Street1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A89.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A89.
A89309 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Weavers Road/A89.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weavers Road/A89.
Weavers Road243 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Gartlea Road.
71 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gartlea Road.
Gartlea Road135 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Gartlea Avenue.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gartlea Avenue.
Gartlea Avenue223 m
Turn left onto Monkland Street.
Monkland Street97 m
Turn right onto Old Union Street.
Old Union Street160 m
Turn left onto Lady Wilson Street.
Lady Wilson Street223 m
Turn right onto South Biggar Road.
South Biggar Road315 m
Turn right onto Carlisle Road/A73.
Carlisle Road2.2 km
Turn right onto Lauchope Street.
Lauchope Street611 m
Turn right onto Kennelburn Road.
Kennelburn Road122 m
Turn right onto Woodside Street.
Woodside Street117 m
Turn right onto Loch Road.
Loch Road162 m
Turn right onto Gibb Street.
Gibb Street83 m
Turn right onto Woodhall Street.
Woodhall Street509 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bo'ness Road/B799.
42 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bo'ness Road/B799.
Bo'ness Road202 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bo'ness Road/B799.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bo'ness Road/B799.
Bo'ness Road644 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bo'ness Road/B799.
78 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bo'ness Road/B799.
Bo'ness Road610 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Main Street/A775.
95 m
Exit the roundabout onto Main Street/A775. Continue on A775.
A7752.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Calder Road/B7029.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Calder Road/B7029.
Calder Road277 m
Enter Clydesdale Road and take the 3rd exit onto Calder Road.
Clydesdale Road39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Calder Road.
Calder Road1.0 km
Turn left onto A721.
A7211.1 km
Turn right onto Bellshill Road.
Bellshill Road126 m
Turn left onto Bellshill Road/A721. Continue on A721.
A7211.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Motherwell Road/A721.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Motherwell Road/A721.
Motherwell Road649 m
Turn left onto Cross Gates/A721.
Cross Gates516 m
Turn left onto Hamilton Road/B7070.
Hamilton Road517 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hamilton Road/B7070.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hamilton Road/B7070.
Hamilton Road322 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A725.
A7253.6 km
Take the Shawhead ramp.
M82.5 km
Take exit 7.
M8799 m
Enter Eurocentral Junction and take the 3rd exit onto A8.
Eurocentral Junction206 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8.
A8189 m
Enter Eurocentral Junction and take the 3rd exit onto A8/Glasgow and Edinburgh Road.
Eurocentral Junction185 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8/Glasgow and Edinburgh Road.
A82.5 km
Take the exit.
A8439 m
Turn left onto A725/North Road.
A725269 m
Turn right to take the A8 ramp.
A81.4 km
Take the exit.
Carnbroe Road349 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Carnbroe Road.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Carnbroe Road.
Carnbroe Road473 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Carnbroe Road.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Carnbroe Road.
Carnbroe Road883 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Paddock Street.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Paddock Street.
Paddock Street335 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Paddock Street.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Paddock Street.
Paddock Street1.1 km
Turn left onto Cairnhill Road/B802. Continue on B802.
B8021.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A89.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto A89.
A89304 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alexander Street/A89.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alexander Street/A89.
Alexander Street275 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Airdrie · Route 14 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.
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 11.9 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.
Wilson Arms
Start near Wilson Arms.
Greenhill Primary School
Continue to Greenhill Primary School.
Whifflet
Continue to Whifflet.
Corner Room
Continue to Corner Room.
Calder Parish Church
Continue to Calder Parish Church.
Horseshoe Bar
Continue to Horseshoe Bar.
Airdrie
Continue to Airdrie.
Saint Edward's Church
Continue to Saint Edward's Church.
Tiny Tots Academy
Continue to Tiny Tots Academy.
Mr Bike Motorcycles Service & Repair
Continue to Mr Bike Motorcycles Service & Repair.
Crown Bar
Continue to Crown Bar.
Derby Inn
Continue to Derby Inn.
Holy Family
Continue to Holy Family.
Sacred Heart RC
Continue to Sacred Heart RC.
James Street
Continue to James Street, taking the junction with good observation.
Eurocentral Junction
Continue to Eurocentral Junction, taking the junction with good observation.
St Stephens Roman Catholic Parish Church
Continue to St Stephens Roman Catholic Parish Church.
Cairnhill Genral
Continue to Cairnhill Genral.
Pilgrim Community Centre
Continue to Pilgrim Community Centre.
Pilgrim Community Chruch
Finish back near Pilgrim Community Chruch, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 13 turns · 4 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 19 turns · 1 set of lights
14 roundabouts · 10 turns · 1 set of lights
10 roundabouts · 8 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 45.9 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Airdrie test centre, not an official DVSA route.