Near Atherton test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 16 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 102.0 km practice loop near Atherton test centre, taking roughly 40 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, 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 churches, pubs, stations 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 Atherton 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 209-step drive on real, named roads (about 101.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive west.
34 m
Turn right.
28 m
Turn right onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue232 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue411 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Gibfield Park Way.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way655 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout96 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577315 m
Move right to stay on A577/Wigan Road.
A577211 m
Keep right to stay on A577/Wigan Road.
A577748 m
Keep right to take A577/Smallbrook Lane.
A577128 m
Keep left to stay on A577.
A5772.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A577/Atherton Road.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Atherton Road.
A577913 m
Turn left onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane412 m
Move right to stay on Swan Lane.
Swan Lane286 m
Turn right onto Coupland Road.
Coupland Road557 m
Turn right onto Ellergreen Road.
Ellergreen Road129 m
Turn left onto Penswick Road.
Penswick Road206 m
Turn left onto Coupland Road.
Coupland Road786 m
Turn left onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane308 m
Turn right onto Athol Crescent.
Athol Crescent277 m
Turn left onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane171 m
Move right to stay on Swan Lane.
Swan Lane1.0 km
Turn left onto Wearish Lane.
Wearish Lane11 m
Keep right to stay on Wearish Lane.
Wearish Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto A58/Wigan Road.
A581.1 km
Turn right onto A58/Cricketers Way. Continue on A58.
A582.0 km
Enter Chequerbent Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A58/Snydale Way.
Chequerbent Roundabout99 m
Exit the roundabout onto A58/Snydale Way. Continue on A58.
A58640 m
Enter Hunger Hill Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A58/Snydale Way.
Hunger Hill Interchange164 m
Exit the roundabout onto A58/Snydale Way. Continue on A58.
A581.2 km
Turn left onto A58/Beaumont Road.
A581.1 km
Turn right.
50 m
Turn left onto Armadale Road.
Armadale Road78 m
Keep straight to stay on Armadale Road.
Armadale Road826 m
Keep left to stay on Armadale Road.
Armadale Road110 m
Turn right onto Kildonan Drive.
Kildonan Drive262 m
Turn left onto Armadale Road.
Armadale Road1.0 km
Turn right.
40 m
Turn left onto A58/Beaumont Road.
A581.1 km
Turn right onto A58/Wigan Road. Continue on A58.
A581.2 km
Enter Hunger Hill Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A58/Snydale Way.
Hunger Hill Interchange167 m
Exit the roundabout onto A58/Snydale Way.
A58626 m
Enter Chequerbent Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A58/Park Road.
Chequerbent Roundabout123 m
Exit the roundabout onto A58/Park Road.
A581.2 km
Keep right to stay on A58.
A58163 m
Turn left onto Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road365 m
Keep left to stay on Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road345 m
Keep left to stay on B5235.
B5235902 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A57732 m
Turn right onto Lovers Lane.
Lovers Lane416 m
Turn right onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.4 km
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579169 m
Keep straight to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579912 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579125 m
Move left onto Parsonage Roundabout/A578. Continue on A578.
A578610 m
Turn right onto King Street/A572. Continue on A572.
A572659 m
Turn left onto Bonnywell Road.
Bonnywell Road134 m
Turn right onto Woodlands Avenue.
Woodlands Avenue83 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Woodlands Avenue.
Woodlands Avenue83 m
Turn left onto Bonnywell Road.
Bonnywell Road134 m
Turn right onto St Helens Road/A572. Continue on A572.
A572607 m
Turn left onto Spinning Jenny Way/A578. Continue on A578.
A578578 m
Move left towards A579.
Atherleigh Way54 m
Make a sharp right onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A57934 m
Turn left onto Parsonage Roundabout/A578. Continue on A578.
A578281 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Wigan Road/A578.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wigan Road/A578.
Wigan Road3.2 km
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road.
A577860 m
Turn right onto Hawthorn Avenue.
Hawthorn Avenue230 m
Turn left onto Ludlow Avenue.
Ludlow Avenue154 m
Turn left onto Long Lane.
Long Lane192 m
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road.
A5771.9 km
Turn right onto Westleigh Lane.
Westleigh Lane2.6 km
Turn right onto Leigh Road/B5215.
Leigh Road421 m
Turn left onto Platt Street.
Platt Street160 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Holden Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holden Road.
Holden Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Move left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane307 m
Keep right to stay on Green Lane.
Green Lane282 m
Keep right to take Queensway.
Queensway150 m
Keep right to stay on Queensway.
Queensway129 m
Keep right to stay on Queensway.
Queensway530 m
Turn right onto Richmond Drive.
Richmond Drive56 m
Turn left onto Ludlow Drive.
Ludlow Drive175 m
Turn right onto Kensington Drive.
Kensington Drive122 m
Turn right onto Coronation Drive.
Coronation Drive468 m
Turn left onto Queensway.
Queensway687 m
Keep straight to take Green Lane.
Green Lane279 m
Move right onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Turn right onto Holden Road.
Holden Road1.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hope Street.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hope Street.
Hope Street60 m
Turn left onto Irvine Street.
Irvine Street155 m
Turn right onto Leigh Road/B5215.
Leigh Road323 m
Turn left onto Kirkhall Lane.
Kirkhall Lane249 m
Keep right to stay on Kirkhall Lane.
Kirkhall Lane42 m
Move right to stay on Kirkhall Lane.
Kirkhall Lane36 m
Turn right onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5791.8 km
Turn left onto Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane113 m
Keep left to stay on Lovers Lane/B5235.
Lovers Lane306 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A57732 m
Turn right onto Schofield Lane.
Schofield Lane986 m
Keep left to take Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road257 m
Keep right to stay on Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road364 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Leigh Road/B5235.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road1.1 km
Move left onto A58/Cricketers Way.
A58523 m
Take the exit on the right.
Cricketers Way94 m
Turn right onto Wigan Road/B5236. Continue on B5236.
B52361.0 km
Turn left onto James Street.
James Street610 m
Turn right onto Great Bank Road.
Great Bank Road682 m
Move right onto Wimberry Hill Road.
Wimberry Hill Road251 m
Keep right to stay on Wimberry Hill Road.
Wimberry Hill Road80 m
Turn right onto Chorley Road/A6.
Chorley Road800 m
Keep straight to stay on A6.
A62.0 km
Enter Chequerbent Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6/Manchester Road.
Chequerbent Roundabout182 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6/Manchester Road.
A634 m
Turn left to stay on A6/Manchester Road.
A6635 m
Keep left to stay on A6/Manchester Road.
A61.1 km
Keep left to stay on A6/Manchester Road.
A6136 m
Turn right onto A579/Newbrook Road.
A579396 m
Keep right to stay on A579/Newbrook Road.
A579123 m
Keep right to stay on A579/Newbrook Road.
A579517 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Newbrook Road.
A579370 m
Keep right to stay on A579.
A5791.7 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street329 m
Turn left onto Tyldesley Road/A577.
Tyldesley Road2.1 km
Turn right onto Manchester Road/A577. Continue on A577.
A577279 m
Turn left onto Astley Street.
Astley Street694 m
Turn left onto Thirlmere Avenue.
Thirlmere Avenue232 m
Keep left to stay on Thirlmere Avenue.
Thirlmere Avenue246 m
Turn left onto Chalfont Drive.
Chalfont Drive97 m
Keep left to stay on Chalfont Drive.
Chalfont Drive47 m
Turn right onto Hollins Close.
Hollins Close126 m
Turn left.
24 m
Make a right U-turn.
24 m
Turn right onto Hollins Close.
Hollins Close126 m
Turn left onto Chalfont Drive.
Chalfont Drive144 m
Turn right onto Thirlmere Avenue.
Thirlmere Avenue212 m
Keep left to stay on Thirlmere Avenue.
Thirlmere Avenue266 m
Turn right onto Astley Street.
Astley Street694 m
Turn left onto Elliott Street/A577. Continue on A577.
A5771.8 km
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street330 m
Turn right onto A579/Bolton Road.
A579387 m
Keep left to stay on A579.
A5791.1 km
Turn left onto Broadway.
Broadway230 m
Turn left to stay on Broadway.
Broadway101 m
Move right.
186 m
Turn right.
41 m
Keep left to take Woodlands Drive.
Woodlands Drive291 m
Turn left onto A579/Newbrook Road.
A579572 m
Keep straight to stay on A579/Newbrook Road.
A579484 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Newbrook Road.
A579552 m
Turn left onto A6/Manchester Road.
A61.3 km
Keep right to stay on A6/Manchester Road.
A6576 m
Enter Chequerbent Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A58/Park Road.
Chequerbent Roundabout64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A58/Park Road.
A584.6 km
Keep left to stay on A58/Wigan Road.
A58100 m
Keep right to stay on A58/Wigan Road.
A58310 m
Turn left onto Sandy Lane.
Sandy Lane53 m
Keep right to stay on Sandy Lane.
Sandy Lane1.3 km
Turn right onto Green Lane.
Green Lane576 m
Move right onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane412 m
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road.
A5771.2 km
Keep right to stay on A577.
A5771.4 km
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 5th exit.
Talbot Roundabout119 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577315 m
Move right to stay on A577/Wigan Road.
A577165 m
Turn right onto Schofield Lane.
Schofield Lane23 m
Move left onto Schofield Lane/B5235. Continue on B5235.
B5235963 m
Keep left to take Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road257 m
Keep right to stay on Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road110 m
Turn left to stay on Lower Leigh Road.
Lower Leigh Road133 m
Turn left onto Hindley Road.
Hindley Road246 m
Keep right to stay on Hindley Road.
Hindley Road64 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Hindley Road.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hindley Road.
Hindley Road1.2 km
Turn right onto Wearish Lane.
Wearish Lane916 m
Turn right onto The Hoskers.
The Hoskers439 m
Keep right to stay on The Hoskers.
The Hoskers104 m
Keep left to stay on The Hoskers.
The Hoskers416 m
Move right onto France Street.
France Street390 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hindley Road.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hindley Road.
Hindley Road885 m
Turn left.
32 m
Turn right onto Hindley Road.
Hindley Road902 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hindley Road.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hindley Road.
Hindley Road58 m
Turn left onto Hartford Road.
Hartford Road381 m
Enter Leigh Road and take the 2nd exit onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road365 m
Keep left to stay on Lower Leigh Road/B5235.
Lower Leigh Road345 m
Keep left to stay on B5235.
B5235902 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577472 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Gibfield Park Way.
Talbot Roundabout6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way196 m
Keep left to stay on Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way123 m
Keep right to stay on Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way133 m
Keep right to stay on Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way199 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue58 m
Keep right to stay on Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue190 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Atherton · 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.
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.
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 41.5 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, 50 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.
St John
Start near St John.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Continue to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Westhoughton Methodist Church
Continue to Westhoughton Methodist Church.
Tavern Fayre
Continue to Tavern Fayre.
Daisy Hill
Continue to Daisy Hill.
Leigh Adult Learning Centre
Continue to Leigh Adult Learning Centre.
Hindley Green Methodist Church
Continue to Hindley Green Methodist Church.
Hilton Park
Continue to Hilton Park.
Higher Folds Sports and Social club
Continue to Higher Folds Sports and Social club.
Rose Hill Tavern
Continue to Rose Hill Tavern.
Westhoughton
Continue to Westhoughton.
Parish Church of St. John The Evangelist
Continue to Parish Church of St. John The Evangelist.
St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Continue to St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
Atherton
Continue to Atherton.
Tyldesley Chapel
Continue to Tyldesley Chapel.
Central Methodist Church
Continue to Central Methodist Church.
St Andrew's Church Over Hulton
Continue to St Andrew's Church Over Hulton.
Hart Common Church
Continue to Hart Common Church.
St James Church
Continue to St James Church.
Grey Man
Finish back near Grey Man, completing the loop.
3 roundabouts · 14 turns · 4 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 18 turns · 7 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 14 turns · 5 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 15 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 102.0 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Atherton test centre, not an official DVSA route.