Near Atherton test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 7 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 56.3 km practice loop near Atherton 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 Talbot Roundabout. 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 named junctions, schools, churches and pubs, 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 67-step drive on real, named roads (about 56.3 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 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 3rd exit onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
Talbot Roundabout69 m
Exit the roundabout onto A579/Atherleigh Way. Continue on A579.
A5793.2 km
Turn right onto Parsonage Roundabout/A578. Continue on A578.
A578303 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Firs Lane.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Firs Lane.
Firs Lane861 m
Move left onto Plank Lane.
Plank Lane3.9 km
Turn left onto Church Lane/B5207.
Church Lane1.1 km
Turn left onto A580/East Lancashire Road.
A5802.4 km
Turn left onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5792.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5793.8 km
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout54 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.
A579256 m
Turn right onto Douglas Street.
Douglas Street61 m
Turn left onto Weston Street.
Weston Street94 m
Move right onto Stamford Street.
Stamford Street59 m
Turn right onto Marton Drive.
Marton Drive126 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Marton Drive.
Marton Drive126 m
Turn left onto Stamford Street.
Stamford Street59 m
Turn right to stay on Stamford Street.
Stamford Street59 m
Turn left onto A579/Bolton Road.
A579346 m
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 2nd exit onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
Talbot Roundabout36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A579/Atherleigh Way. Continue on A579.
A5793.2 km
Turn right onto Parsonage Roundabout/A578. Continue on A578.
A578303 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Firs Lane.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Firs Lane.
Firs Lane861 m
Move left onto Plank Lane.
Plank Lane3.9 km
Turn right onto Golborne Road/B5207. Continue on B5207.
B52071.1 km
Move right onto Ashton Road/A573. Continue on A573.
A5734.0 km
Move right onto Warrington Road/A58. Continue on A58.
A58374 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Liverpool Road/A58.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Liverpool Road/A58. Continue on A58.
A582.7 km
Turn right onto A58/Bridge Street. Continue on A58.
A58890 m
Turn right onto Sandy Lane.
Sandy Lane1.4 km
Turn right onto Green Lane.
Green Lane576 m
Move right onto Swan Lane.
Swan Lane412 m
Turn left onto A577/Atherton Road.
A577341 m
Turn right onto Leigh Road/A578. Continue on A578.
A5783.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Twist Lane/A578.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Twist Lane/A578. Continue on A578.
A578271 m
Move right onto Parsonage Roundabout/A578.
Parsonage Roundabout31 m
Turn right onto A579/Parsonage Roundabout. Continue on A579.
A579662 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A579919 m
Turn left onto St Helens Road/A572. Continue on A572.
A5721.8 km
Turn left onto Spinning Jenny Way/A578. Continue on A578.
A578627 m
Turn right onto A579/Atherleigh Way.
A5793.2 km
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Gibfield Park Way.
Talbot Roundabout26 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 6 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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Talbot Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 23.0 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 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.
Talbot Roundabout
Start near Talbot Roundabout.
Leigh Adult Learning Centre
Continue to Leigh Adult Learning Centre.
St Peter's
Continue to St Peter's.
Nevison Country Inn
Continue to Nevison Country Inn.
Saint Luke
Continue to Saint Luke.
St Luke's CofE Primary School
Continue to St Luke's CofE Primary School.
Talbot
Continue to Talbot.
Lion
Continue to Lion.
Royal
Continue to Royal.
Hare and Hounds
Continue to Hare and Hounds.
Lowton and Golborne Community Church
Continue to Lowton and Golborne Community Church.
St John's
Continue to St John's.
St Peter
Continue to St Peter.
St Benedict's RC Church
Continue to St Benedict's RC Church.
St John's Methodist Church
Continue to St John's Methodist Church.
Hindley Green Family Church
Continue to Hindley Green Family Church.
St John
Continue to St John.
Hindley Green Methodist Church
Continue to Hindley Green Methodist Church.
Bride 2 Be
Continue to Bride 2 Be.
Leopards Den
Finish back near Leopards Den, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 16 turns · 2 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 14 turns · 4 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 18 turns · 7 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 14 turns · 5 sets of lights
This route is 56.3 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Atherton test centre, not an official DVSA route.