Near Airdrie test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 18 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 32 navigation steps.
This is an independent 27.1 km practice loop near Airdrie 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 Rawyards Roundabout and Gartlea 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, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads, 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 pubs, churches, shops 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 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 97-step drive on real, named roads (about 27.1 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 6th exit onto Mavisbank Street.
Park Crescent209 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mavisbank Street.
Mavisbank Street270 m
Turn right onto Davidson Street.
Davidson Street259 m
Turn right onto Aitchison Street/A8010.
Aitchison Street57 m
Turn left onto Aitchison Court.
Aitchison Court37 m
Turn right to stay on Aitchison Court.
Aitchison Court14 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Aitchison Court.
Aitchison Court14 m
Turn left to stay on Aitchison Court.
Aitchison Court37 m
Turn right onto Aitchison Street/A8010.
Aitchison Street82 m
Turn right onto Bell Street.
Bell Street253 m
Turn left onto Alexander Street/A89.
Alexander Street5 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Stirling Street.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Stirling Street.
Stirling Street250 m
Turn right onto Broomknoll Street/B802.
Broomknoll Street162 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Broomknoll Street/B802.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broomknoll Street/B802. Continue on B802.
B802700 m
Turn right onto Firhill Avenue.
Firhill Avenue263 m
Turn right onto Woodburn Avenue.
Woodburn Avenue443 m
Turn left onto Victoria Place.
Victoria Place260 m
Turn left onto Devonview Street.
Devonview Street350 m
Turn left onto Thomson Drive.
Thomson Drive107 m
Turn left onto Woodburn Avenue.
Woodburn Avenue318 m
Turn right onto Bellsdyke Road.
Bellsdyke Road261 m
Turn right onto Cairnhill Road/B802.
Cairnhill Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Sykeside Road.
Sykeside Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Paddock Street.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Paddock Street.
Paddock Street336 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Paddock Street.
56 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 right onto Calderbank Road/B802.
Calderbank Road624 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Brownsburn Road/B8058.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brownsburn Road/B8058.
Brownsburn Road697 m
Turn left onto Carlisle Road/A73.
Carlisle Road1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Clark Street/A89.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Clark Street/A89.
Clark Street304 m
Turn right onto North Biggar Road/B8053. Continue on B8053.
B8053801 m
Turn left onto Aitken Street/A8010.
Aitken Street168 m
Turn right onto Mill Road.
Mill Road221 m
Turn right onto South Commonhead Avenue.
South Commonhead Avenue306 m
Turn right onto Thrashbush Road.
Thrashbush Road175 m
Turn left onto Black Street/A8010.
Black Street407 m
Enter Rawyards Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Motherwell Street/A73.
Rawyards Roundabout85 m
Exit the roundabout onto Motherwell Street/A73. Continue on A73.
A73622 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A73.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto A73.
A73490 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Carlisle Road/A73.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Carlisle Road/A73.
Carlisle Road1.3 km
Turn right onto Brownsburn Road/B8058.
Brownsburn Road697 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Calderbank Road/B802.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Calderbank Road/B802.
Calderbank Road589 m
Turn right onto Credon Drive.
Credon Drive422 m
Turn left onto Moray Avenue.
Moray Avenue39 m
Turn left onto Cairnhill Road/B802. Continue on B802.
B802958 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Brownsburn Road/B8058.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brownsburn Road/B8058.
Brownsburn Road697 m
Turn left onto Carlisle Road/A73.
Carlisle Road687 m
Turn left onto South Biggar Road.
South Biggar Road314 m
Turn left onto Lady Wilson Street.
Lady Wilson Street223 m
Turn left onto Old Union Street.
Old Union Street148 m
Turn right onto Gartleahill.
Gartleahill225 m
Move right onto Gartlea Road.
Gartlea Road90 m
Turn right onto Lady Wilson Street.
Lady Wilson Street281 m
Turn left onto Old Union Street.
Old Union Street160 m
Turn left onto Monkland Street.
Monkland Street97 m
Turn right onto Gartlea Avenue.
Gartlea Avenue223 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Gartlea Road.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gartlea Road.
Gartlea Road131 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Weavers Road/A89.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weavers Road/A89.
Weavers Road247 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Broomknoll Street/B802.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broomknoll Street/B802. Continue on B802.
B802685 m
Turn left onto Mavisbank Street.
Mavisbank Street400 m
Turn left onto Wilson Street.
Wilson Street272 m
Turn left onto Aitchison Street/A8010.
Aitchison Street82 m
Turn right onto Bell Street.
Bell Street253 m
Turn left onto Alexander Street/A89.
Alexander Street5 m
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 2nd exit onto Gartlea Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gartlea Road.
Gartlea Road97 m
Turn right onto Hogg Street.
Hogg Street296 m
Turn right onto Cairnhill Road/B802. Continue on B802.
B802256 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Broomknoll Street/B802.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broomknoll Street/B802. Continue on B802.
B802474 m
Turn left onto High Street/A8010. Continue on A8010.
A8010354 m
Turn left onto Aitchison Court.
Aitchison Court37 m
Turn right to stay on Aitchison Court.
Aitchison Court19 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Airdrie · 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.
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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Rawyards Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (20, 30, 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.
Wilson Arms
Start near Wilson Arms.
Airdrie & Coatbridge Islamic Centre
Continue to Airdrie & Coatbridge Islamic Centre.
Pilgrim Community Centre
Continue to Pilgrim Community Centre.
Pilgrim Community Chruch
Continue to Pilgrim Community Chruch.
Senor's
Continue to Senor's.
Barnardo's
Continue to Barnardo's.
St Stephens Roman Catholic Parish Church
Continue to St Stephens Roman Catholic Parish Church.
Saint Edward's Church
Continue to Saint Edward's Church.
M&S Simply Food
Continue to M&S Simply Food.
St Columba's Parish Church
Continue to St Columba's Parish Church.
Rawyards Roundabout
Continue to Rawyards Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Lucky Star Chinese Takeaway
Continue to Lucky Star Chinese Takeaway.
Tiny Tots Academy
Continue to Tiny Tots Academy.
Gartlea Road
Continue to Gartlea Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Airdrie High Kirk
Continue to Airdrie High Kirk.
Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church
Continue to Airdrie Reformed Presbyterian Church.
Airdrie
Continue to Airdrie.
Salvation Army
Continue to Salvation Army.
Ebenezer Congregational Church
Continue to Ebenezer Congregational Church.
G.McAllister Funeral Directors
Finish back near G.McAllister Funeral Directors, completing the loop.
11 roundabouts · 9 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 13 turns · 4 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 19 turns · 1 set of lights
14 roundabouts · 10 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 27.1 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Airdrie test centre, not an official DVSA route.