Near Atherton test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 14 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 100.6 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.
Along the way you'll meet Hunger Hill Interchange and Horwich Link Interchange. 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 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 167-step drive on real, named roads (about 100.6 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive west.
31 m
Turn right.
28 m
Turn right onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue232 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto North Road.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Road.
North Road958 m
Move right onto Platt Lane.
Platt Lane1.2 km
Turn left onto A58/Park Road. Continue on A58.
A58767 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. Continue on B5235.
B52351.6 km
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577472 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577157 m
Turn left onto A577/Mealhouse Lane.
A577613 m
Turn right onto Church Street/A577.
Church Street100 m
Turn right onto Market Street/A577. Continue on Market Street.
Market Street559 m
Turn right onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577257 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577481 m
Turn right onto Schofield Lane.
Schofield Lane23 m
Move left onto Schofield Lane/B5235. Continue on B5235.
B52351.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Leigh Road/B5235.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Leigh Road/B5235.
Leigh Road620 m
Turn left onto Washacre.
Washacre380 m
Turn left onto Southfield Drive.
Southfield Drive103 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Southfield Drive.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Southfield Drive.
Southfield Drive441 m
Turn left onto A58/Wigan Road.
A582.4 km
Turn left onto Castle Hill Park.
Castle Hill Park97 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Castle Hill Park.
Castle Hill Park97 m
Turn left onto A58/Wigan Road.
A58839 m
Turn left onto Lancaster Road.
Lancaster Road592 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Borsdane Avenue.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto Borsdane Avenue.
Borsdane Avenue628 m
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road.
A577648 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Atherton Road.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Atherton Road. Continue on A577.
A5772.1 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
Turn right to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road654 m
Turn right onto Stafford Street.
Stafford Street65 m
Turn left onto York Street.
York Street140 m
Turn left onto Devon Street.
Devon Street63 m
Turn right onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road2.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Hen Fold Road/A5082.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hen Fold Road/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.5 km
Turn right onto Manchester Road/A577. Continue on A577.
A577593 m
Turn left onto Mort Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50822.2 km
Turn left onto Manchester Road West/A6. Continue on A6.
A62.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Watergate Lane/A6.
106 m
Exit the roundabout onto Watergate Lane/A6.
Watergate Lane135 m
Enter Watergate Lane Interchange and take the 1st exit onto M61.
Watergate Lane Interchange32 m
Exit the roundabout onto M61.
M616.5 km
Take exit 6.
M61618 m
Keep right to take M61.
M6164 m
Enter Horwich Link Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A6027/De Havilland Way.
Horwich Link Interchange284 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6027/De Havilland Way.
A6027690 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6027/De Havilland Way.
60 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6027/De Havilland Way. Continue on A6027.
A60271.0 km
Enter Beehive Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A673/Chorley New Road.
Beehive Roundabout78 m
Exit the roundabout onto A673/Chorley New Road.
A67332 m
Turn left onto Austin's Lane.
Austin's Lane236 m
Turn left onto Salisbury Road.
Salisbury Road114 m
Turn left.
21 m
Turn right.
18 m
Make a right U-turn.
18 m
Turn left.
21 m
Turn right onto Salisbury Road.
Salisbury Road114 m
Turn right onto Austin's Lane.
Austin's Lane236 m
Turn left onto A673/Chorley New Road.
A67316 m
Make a sharp right to stay on A673/Chorley New Road.
A67370 m
Enter Beehive Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A6027/De Havilland Way.
Beehive Roundabout17 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6027/De Havilland Way.
A60271.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6027/De Havilland Way.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6027/De Havilland Way.
A6027558 m
Take the M61 ramp.
M613.9 km
Take exit 5.
M61447 m
Enter Hunger Hill Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A58/Snydale Way.
Hunger Hill Interchange258 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.
A58606 m
Turn left onto Platt Lane.
Platt Lane1.2 km
Move left onto North Road.
North Road955 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bag Lane.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bag Lane.
Bag Lane550 m
Turn left onto Derby Street.
Derby Street473 m
Turn right onto Warwick Road.
Warwick Road191 m
Turn right onto Kent Road.
Kent Road133 m
Turn left onto Car Bank Street.
Car Bank Street18 m
Turn right onto Flapper Fold Lane.
Flapper Fold Lane383 m
Turn right onto Gloucester Street.
Gloucester Street526 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road. Continue on A577.
A5772.6 km
Turn right onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane412 m
Move left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane575 m
Turn left onto Alder Lane.
Alder Lane606 m
Turn left onto Broadway.
Broadway233 m
Turn right onto Belmont Road.
Belmont Road240 m
Turn left onto Manor Road.
Manor Road133 m
Turn right onto Lancaster Road.
Lancaster Road68 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Borsdane Avenue.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Borsdane Avenue.
Borsdane Avenue628 m
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road.
A577648 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Atherton Road.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Atherton Road. Continue on A577.
A5773.6 km
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Gloucester Street.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gloucester Street.
Gloucester Street1.1 km
Turn right onto Car Bank Street.
Car Bank Street204 m
Turn left onto A579/Bolton Road. Continue on A579.
A5791.1 km
Turn left onto Broadway.
Broadway231 m
Turn left to stay on Broadway.
Broadway114 m
Move right.
174 m
Turn right onto Woodlands Drive.
Woodlands Drive333 m
Turn right onto A579/Newbrook Road. Continue on A579.
A5791.2 km
Turn right onto Car Bank Street.
Car Bank Street204 m
Turn left onto Gloucester Street.
Gloucester Street1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road. Continue on A577.
A5772.6 km
Turn right onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane412 m
Move left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane266 m
Turn left onto Crossdale Road.
Crossdale Road448 m
Turn left onto Long Lane.
Long Lane478 m
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road. Continue on A577.
A5773.3 km
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Gloucester Street.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gloucester Street.
Gloucester Street1.1 km
Turn right onto Car Bank Street.
Car Bank Street204 m
Turn left onto A579/Bolton Road. Continue on A579.
A5791.5 km
Turn right onto Mornington Road.
Mornington Road93 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Mornington Road.
Mornington Road93 m
Turn left onto A579/Newbrook Road. Continue on A579.
A5791.5 km
Turn right onto Car Bank Street.
Car Bank Street204 m
Turn left onto Gloucester Street.
Gloucester Street1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577569 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road. Continue on A577.
A5773.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Atherton Road.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Atherton Road.
A577646 m
Turn right onto Borsdane Avenue.
Borsdane Avenue482 m
Turn left onto Exeter Road.
Exeter Road81 m
Turn left onto Derwent Road.
Derwent Road151 m
Turn left onto Langdale Road.
Langdale Road117 m
Turn right onto Borsdane Avenue.
Borsdane Avenue303 m
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road.
A577648 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A577/Atherton Road.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Atherton Road. Continue on A577.
A5773.6 km
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Gibfield Park Way.
Talbot Roundabout6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Way.
Gibfield Park Way653 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Gibfield Park Avenue.
Gibfield Park Avenue249 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Atherton · Route 13 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 50.5 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, 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.
Daisy Hill
Start near Daisy Hill.
Talbot
Continue to Talbot.
Atherton Evangelical Church
Continue to Atherton Evangelical Church.
Atherton Salvation Army Church
Continue to Atherton Salvation Army Church.
Westhoughton Gospel Hall
Continue to Westhoughton Gospel Hall.
Hart Common Church
Continue to Hart Common Church.
St John
Continue to St John.
St Thomas & All Saints
Continue to St Thomas & All Saints.
St Ambrose Barlow
Continue to St Ambrose Barlow.
Ram Street Gospel Hall
Continue to Ram Street Gospel Hall.
Dun Mare
Continue to Dun Mare.
Hunger Hill Interchange
Continue to Hunger Hill Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Horwich Link Interchange
Continue to Horwich Link Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Beehive
Continue to Beehive.
AD3 Design
Continue to AD3 Design.
St George
Continue to St George.
Hindley Green Family Church
Continue to Hindley Green Family Church.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Continue to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Atherton Police Station
Continue to Atherton Police Station.
Atherton
Finish back near Atherton, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 16 turns · 2 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 100.6 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.