Near Atherton test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 15 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 63.1 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 pubs, stations, churches and shops, 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 142-step drive on real, named roads (about 64.5 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.
A577211 m
Turn left onto Durban Street.
Durban Street127 m
Turn left onto Telford Street.
Telford Street120 m
Turn right onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577128 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.
A577595 m
Keep left to stay on A577/Mealhouse Lane.
A577604 m
Keep left to take A579/Bolton Road.
A5791.7 km
Keep straight to take A579/Newbrook Road.
A579484 m
Keep left to stay on A579/Newbrook Road.
A579551 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 3rd exit onto Manchester Road/A6.
Chequerbent Roundabout137 m
Exit the roundabout onto Manchester Road/A6.
Manchester Road853 m
Turn right onto Bolton Road.
Bolton Road1.1 km
Make a right U-turn to stay on Bolton Road.
Bolton Road1.0 km
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A6.
Manchester Road859 m
Enter Chequerbent Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Chequerbent Roundabout181 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.
A579395 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.
A579238 m
Keep right to stay on A579/Newbrook Road.
A579132 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 Road606 m
Turn right onto Clarence Street.
Clarence Street53 m
Turn left onto Chester Street.
Chester Street147 m
Turn left onto Tyldesley Road/A577.
Tyldesley Road696 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street330 m
Turn right onto A579/Bolton Road.
A579387 m
Keep left to stay on A579.
A5791.7 km
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 3rd exit onto Manchester Road/A6.
Chequerbent Roundabout137 m
Exit the roundabout onto Manchester Road/A6.
Manchester Road112 m
Turn left to stay on Manchester Road.
Manchester Road27 m
Turn left to stay on Manchester Road.
Manchester Road21 m
Keep left to stay on Manchester Road.
Manchester Road54 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road63 m
Make a sharp left onto A58/Park Road.
A5879 m
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.
A582.1 km
Turn left onto Horsfield Street.
Horsfield Street94 m
Turn left onto Junction Road.
Junction Road64 m
Turn left onto Hough Street.
Hough Street92 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Hough Street.
Hough Street92 m
Turn left onto Junction Road.
Junction Road118 m
Turn left onto Dealey Road.
Dealey Road92 m
Keep right to stay on Dealey Road.
Dealey Road57 m
Turn left onto Wigan Road/A676.
Wigan Road117 m
Turn right onto Hulton Lane/A6145.
Hulton Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto St Helens Road/A579.
St Helens Road405 m
Keep right to stay on St Helens Road/A579.
St Helens Road487 m
Keep straight to stay on St Helens Road/A579.
St Helens Road277 m
Turn left onto Salford Road/A6.
Salford Road223 m
Keep left to stay on Salford Road/A6.
Salford Road999 m
Keep right to stay on Salford Road/A6.
Salford Road85 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Salford Road/A6.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salford Road/A6.
Salford Road528 m
Keep left to stay on Salford Road/A6.
Salford Road1.7 km
Turn right onto Armitage Avenue/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.1 km
Keep right to take Mort Lane/A5082.
Mort Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Sale Lane/A577. Continue on A577.
A577594 m
Turn left onto Hough Lane/A5082.
Hough Lane70 m
Keep right to stay on Hough Lane/A5082.
Hough Lane288 m
Turn right onto Bodmin Road.
Bodmin Road646 m
Turn left onto Briary Drive.
Briary Drive159 m
Turn right onto Bodmin Road.
Bodmin Road518 m
Turn right onto Hough Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Manchester Road/A572.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.9 km
Keep left to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.3 km
Turn left to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Turn right onto Holden Road.
Holden Road209 m
Turn left onto Hawkhurst Street.
Hawkhurst Street67 m
Turn left onto Ennerdale Road.
Ennerdale Road218 m
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road90 m
Turn right to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.3 km
Keep right to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Princes Avenue.
Princes Avenue737 m
Turn right onto Ennerdale Road.
Ennerdale Road121 m
Turn left onto Esthwaite Drive.
Esthwaite Drive159 m
Turn right onto Thirlmere Avenue.
Thirlmere Avenue43 m
Turn left onto Loweswater Avenue.
Loweswater Avenue168 m
Turn left onto Troutbeck Drive.
Troutbeck Drive116 m
Turn right onto Thirlmere Avenue.
Thirlmere Avenue136 m
Turn left onto Astley Street.
Astley Street976 m
Turn right onto Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.6 km
Keep left to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.3 km
Turn left to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road499 m
Keep left to take Chapel Street/A572.
Chapel Street117 m
Turn right onto Astley Street.
Astley Street94 m
Turn right onto Farnworth Street.
Farnworth Street54 m
Turn right onto Boundary Street.
Boundary Street87 m
Turn left onto Chapel Street/A572. Continue on A572.
A572276 m
Keep left to take Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road267 m
Turn right to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road23 m
Turn right to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.3 km
Keep right to stay on Manchester Road/A572.
Manchester Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Princes Avenue.
Princes Avenue1.7 km
Turn left onto Elliott Street/A577. Continue on A577.
A5771.7 km
Turn left onto Hamilton Street.
Hamilton Street1.0 km
Turn right onto Leigh Road/B5215. Continue on B5215.
B5215395 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577105 m
Turn left onto Lambeth Street.
Lambeth Street252 m
Turn right onto Liscard Street.
Liscard Street80 m
Keep left to stay on Liscard Street.
Liscard Street206 m
Turn left onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577358 m
Enter Talbot Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A577/Wigan Road.
Talbot Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577211 m
Turn left onto Durban Street.
Durban Street127 m
Turn left onto Telford Street.
Telford Street120 m
Turn right onto A577/Wigan Road.
A577128 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 9 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.
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 19.9 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 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
Start near Talbot.
Atherton
Continue to Atherton.
St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church
Continue to St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.
White Horse Tavern
Continue to White Horse Tavern.
Jodie's Flat
Continue to Jodie's Flat.
Bent & Bongs Beer Festival
Continue to Bent & Bongs Beer Festival.
Atherton Baptist Church
Continue to Atherton Baptist Church.
Tavern Fayre
Continue to Tavern Fayre.
Deane United Reformed Church
Continue to Deane United Reformed Church.
St Andrew's Church Over Hulton
Continue to St Andrew's Church Over Hulton.
Dun Mare
Continue to Dun Mare.
Ram Street Gospel Hall
Continue to Ram Street Gospel Hall.
Colliers Arms
Continue to Colliers Arms.
St Ambrose Barlow
Continue to St Ambrose Barlow.
St Thomas & All Saints
Continue to St Thomas & All Saints.
Archer
Continue to Archer.
St Thomas' CofE Primary School, Leigh
Continue to St Thomas' CofE Primary School, Leigh.
Tyldesley Chapel
Continue to Tyldesley Chapel.
Sacred Heart (closed)
Continue to Sacred Heart (closed).
Letters Inn
Finish back near Letters Inn, 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 63.1 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.