Near Ashfield test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 10 turns and 11 signalled junctions across 20 navigation steps.
This is an independent 62.4 km practice route near Ashfield test centre, taking roughly 30 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 Common Lane. 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, 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 shops, 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 Ashfield 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 123-step drive on real, named roads (about 62.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southwest.
17 m
Turn right onto B6139.
B6139153 m
Turn left onto A38.
A3852 m
Make a sharp right to stay on A38.
A3843 m
Turn left onto Coxmoor Road.
Coxmoor Road398 m
Turn left onto Lucknow Drive.
Lucknow Drive92 m
Turn left onto Sandown Road.
Sandown Road105 m
Turn left onto Fairfield Road.
Fairfield Road65 m
Turn right onto Coxmoor Road.
Coxmoor Road1.2 km
Keep left to take B6139.
B61391.9 km
Turn right onto Derby Road/A611.
Derby Road3.1 km
Turn right onto Shoulder of Mutton Hill/B6021. Continue on B6021.
B6021471 m
Turn right onto Balls Lane.
Balls Lane378 m
Turn left onto Derby Road/A611.
Derby Road5.0 km
Turn left onto A60/Nottingham Road.
A601.7 km
Keep right to stay on A60.
A60383 m
Keep left to take Portland Street.
Portland Street443 m
Move left onto A38/Stockwell Gate. Continue on A38.
A381.5 km
Keep straight to take A38/Sutton Road.
A381.4 km
Turn right onto Lakeside View.
Lakeside View129 m
Turn left onto Harriers Grove.
Harriers Grove109 m
Turn left onto Broadlands Close.
Broadlands Close32 m
Turn right onto High Oakham Close.
High Oakham Close40 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on High Oakham Close.
High Oakham Close40 m
Turn left onto Broadlands Close.
Broadlands Close32 m
Turn right onto Harriers Grove.
Harriers Grove109 m
Turn right onto Lakeside View.
Lakeside View129 m
Turn left onto Mansfield Road/B6023. Continue on Mansfield Road.
Mansfield Road888 m
Keep right to take A38/Sutton Road.
A38629 m
Keep right to stay on A38/Sutton Road.
A38243 m
Turn right onto Sheepbridge Lane.
Sheepbridge Lane771 m
Turn right.
17 m
Turn right.
130 m
Turn right.
11 m
Turn left onto Sheepbridge Lane.
Sheepbridge Lane1.7 km
Keep right to take Skegby Lane/B6014.
Skegby Lane794 m
Turn left onto A617/Kings Mill Road East.
A617435 m
Keep right to stay on A617/Kings Mill Road East.
A617170 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on A617/Kings Mill Road East.
A617361 m
Keep left to stay on A617/Kings Mill Road East.
A617101 m
Keep right to stay on A617.
A617867 m
Keep left to take A617/Abbott Road.
A617162 m
Turn left onto A617/Sherwood Way West.
A6171.7 km
Keep left to stay on A617/Sherwood Way West.
A617155 m
Keep left to stay on A617/Sherwood Way West.
A617429 m
Move right towards A6191.
A61749 m
Turn left onto A617/Chesterfield Road North.
A61741 m
Keep left to stay on A617.
A6171.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto B6407.
165 m
Exit the roundabout onto B6407.
B64072.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Meadow Lane.
44 m
Exit the roundabout onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane65 m
Keep right to stay on Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane100 m
Keep right to stay on Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane201 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Heather Way.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Heather Way.
Heather Way174 m
Turn right onto Harebell Drive.
Harebell Drive107 m
Move left onto Aster Road.
Aster Road344 m
Turn right onto Piper Street.
Piper Street114 m
Turn right to stay on Piper Street.
Piper Street156 m
Turn right onto Kernel Drive.
Kernel Drive159 m
Turn left onto Aster Road.
Aster Road207 m
Move right onto Harebell Drive.
Harebell Drive106 m
Turn left onto Heather Way.
Heather Way175 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Meadow Lane.
58 m
Exit the roundabout onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane363 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Common Lane/B6047.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Common Lane/B6047. Continue on Common Lane.
Common Lane697 m
Keep left to take Common Lane/B6407.
Common Lane565 m
Keep right to stay on Common Lane/B6407.
Common Lane1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A617.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A617.
A6171.5 km
Turn right onto A617/Sherwood Way West.
A617643 m
Keep right to stay on A617/Sherwood Way West.
A617111 m
Keep right to stay on A617/Sherwood Way West.
A6171.6 km
Turn right onto A617/Abbott Road. Continue on A617.
A617212 m
Keep right to take A617/Beck Lane.
A6171.1 km
Keep right to stay on A617.
A617668 m
Move right onto A38.
A38264 m
Keep straight to stay on A38.
A38699 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38125 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38879 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38380 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38351 m
Keep left to take A38/Kings Mill Road East.
A38572 m
Move left towards B6018/Sutton Road.
105 m
Move left onto Sutton Road/B6018.
Sutton Road1.4 km
Turn left onto Chapel Street/B6020. Continue on B6020.
B6020400 m
Turn right onto New Line Road.
New Line Road18 m
Keep left to stay on New Line Road.
New Line Road262 m
Turn right.
28 m
Make a right U-turn.
28 m
Turn left onto New Line Road.
New Line Road281 m
Turn left onto The Hill/B6020. Continue on B6020.
B6020399 m
Turn right onto Sutton Road/B6018.
Sutton Road1.5 km
Turn right onto A38/Kings Mill Road East. Continue on A38.
A38931 m
Keep left to stay on A38.
A38128 m
Keep left to stay on A38.
A38280 m
Keep straight to stay on A38.
A381.2 km
Turn left towards Coxmoor Road.
Coxmoor Road551 m
Move right onto Eastfield Side.
Eastfield Side487 m
Turn right onto Mansfield Road/B6023.
Mansfield Road504 m
Turn left onto Hill Crescent.
Hill Crescent59 m
Turn right onto Lawrence Crescent.
Lawrence Crescent195 m
Turn left onto Roosevelt Road.
Roosevelt Road48 m
Turn left onto Hill Crescent.
Hill Crescent155 m
Turn right onto Mansfield Road/B6023. Continue on B6023.
B60231.5 km
Turn left onto Northern Bridge Road.
Northern Bridge Road247 m
Turn left onto Outram Street.
Outram Street444 m
Keep right to stay on Outram Street.
Outram Street132 m
Turn right onto Mansfield Road/B6023.
Mansfield Road1.3 km
Take the A38 exit on the right.
113 m
Turn right onto A617.
A61729 m
Move right onto A38.
A38264 m
Keep straight to stay on A38.
A38699 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38125 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38623 m
Make a right U-turn at Station Road/B6022 to stay on A38.
A38648 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38122 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A38109 m
Keep right to stay on A38.
A3836 m
Turn left towards Coxmoor Road.
Coxmoor Road364 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Ashfield · 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.
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 24.3 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 (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.
Hirebase
Start near Hirebase.
Safeway Car Sales
Continue to Safeway Car Sales.
Hollinwell Trade Centre Cars Bought For Cash
Continue to Hollinwell Trade Centre Cars Bought For Cash.
Kingsway
Continue to Kingsway.
Bethel Street Methodist Church
Continue to Bethel Street Methodist Church.
St Mark's Church Mansfield
Continue to St Mark's Church Mansfield.
Bold Forester
Continue to Bold Forester.
William IV
Continue to William IV.
Oakham Garage
Continue to Oakham Garage.
Sir John Cockle
Continue to Sir John Cockle.
Fox and Crown
Continue to Fox and Crown.
Golden Hill
Continue to Golden Hill.
Common Lane
Continue to Common Lane, taking the junction with good observation.
Spar
Continue to Spar.
Hill Methodist Church
Continue to Hill Methodist Church.
Hillocks Primary Academy
Continue to Hillocks Primary Academy.
Hillocks Primary School
Continue to Hillocks Primary School.
Bridge Baptist Church
Continue to Bridge Baptist Church.
Resurrection Mixed Martial Arts Academy
Continue to Resurrection Mixed Martial Arts Academy.
New Cross
Finish back near New Cross, completing the loop.
10 roundabouts · 12 turns · 8 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 12 turns · 11 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 11 turns · 9 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 12 turns · 10 sets of lights
This route is 62.4 km and takes about 30 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Ashfield test centre, not an official DVSA route.