Near Bangor test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 11 roundabouts, 12 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 71.2 km practice route near Bangor 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 Y Felinheli Roundabout, Parc Menai Roundabout and Llys y Gwynt 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 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, stations, named junctions 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 Bangor 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 229-step drive on real, named roads (about 76.3 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive south.
211 m
Turn left.
270 m
Turn left.
287 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai193 m
Keep left to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai121 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Llandegai.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai.
Ffordd Llandegai317 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Llandegai.
Ffordd Llandegai969 m
Turn right onto Ponc y Lôn.
Ponc y Lôn397 m
Keep right to stay on Ponc y Lôn.
Ponc y Lôn531 m
Turn right onto Lon Ddwr.
Lon Ddwr384 m
Keep right to stay on Lon Ddwr.
Lon Ddwr253 m
Move left onto Ffordd Llandegai.
Ffordd Llandegai653 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai314 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai280 m
Keep left to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai108 m
Keep left to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai224 m
Keep left to stay on A5.
A5932 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street467 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Glynne.
Ffordd Glynne383 m
Turn right onto Garth Road/A5.
Garth Road270 m
Turn left onto Lower Garth Road.
Lower Garth Road76 m
Turn left onto Garth Hill.
Garth Hill61 m
Turn right onto Castle View Terrace.
Castle View Terrace53 m
Turn left onto Upper Garth Road.
Upper Garth Road53 m
Keep left to stay on Upper Garth Road.
Upper Garth Road497 m
Move right onto Meirion Road.
Meirion Road219 m
Turn left onto Siliwen Road.
Siliwen Road361 m
Turn left onto Ffordd y Tywysog.
Ffordd y Tywysog173 m
Turn left onto College Road.
College Road41 m
Turn right onto Stryd Deiniol.
Stryd Deiniol46 m
Turn right onto College Road.
College Road47 m
Turn right onto Penrallt Road.
Penrallt Road158 m
Turn right onto Penrallt Isaf.
Penrallt Isaf180 m
Move right onto Allt Glanrafon.
Allt Glanrafon256 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Caergybi/A5. Continue on A5.
A5388 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol46 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol77 m
Move right onto Farrar Road/A5. Continue on A5.
A5320 m
Move right onto Station Road/B5107.
Station Road147 m
Move right to stay on Station Road/B5107.
Station Road26 m
Move right onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol30 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol234 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol726 m
Turn right onto Stryd Y Deon.
Stryd Y Deon209 m
Turn right onto Panton Street.
Panton Street61 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Y Ffynnon.
Ffordd Y Ffynnon54 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Ffordd Y Ffynnon.
Ffordd Y Ffynnon54 m
Turn right onto Panton Street.
Panton Street61 m
Turn right onto Stryd Y Deon.
Stryd Y Deon96 m
Turn right.
161 m
Turn right onto Plas Llwyd Terrace.
Plas Llwyd Terrace59 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Plas Llwyd Terrace.
Plas Llwyd Terrace59 m
Turn left.
161 m
Turn left onto Mount Street.
Mount Street306 m
Turn left onto Garth Road/A5. Continue on A5.
A5726 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Sackville.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Sackville.
Ffordd Sackville259 m
Turn right onto Glanrafon.
Glanrafon99 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street91 m
Turn left onto Lôn Pobty.
Lôn Pobty32 m
Turn left onto Caellepa.
Caellepa274 m
Turn left onto York Place.
York Place48 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on York Place.
York Place48 m
Turn right onto Caellepa.
Caellepa274 m
Turn right onto Lôn Pobty.
Lôn Pobty32 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street467 m
Move right onto Station Road/B5107.
Station Road147 m
Move right to stay on Station Road/B5107.
Station Road26 m
Move right onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol265 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol420 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Gwynedd.
Ffordd Gwynedd149 m
Turn right onto Stryd Waterloo.
Stryd Waterloo54 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Stryd Waterloo.
Stryd Waterloo54 m
Turn right onto Tan-y-Fynwent.
Tan-y-Fynwent236 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol550 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Sackville.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Sackville.
Ffordd Sackville259 m
Turn right onto Glanrafon.
Glanrafon99 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street83 m
Keep left to stay on High Street.
High Street474 m
Move left onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road350 m
Keep left to stay on Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road455 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Caernarfon/A4087.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Caernarfon/A4087. Continue on A4087.
A4087817 m
Keep right to take Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road104 m
Keep left to stay on Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road62 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road373 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road506 m
Enter Caernarfon Road Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road Interchange21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road1.8 km
Enter Y Felinheli Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Caernarfon Road/B4547.
Y Felinheli Roundabout121 m
Exit the roundabout onto Caernarfon Road/B4547.
Caernarfon Road771 m
Keep left to take Stryd Bangor.
Stryd Bangor482 m
Keep right to stay on Stryd Bangor.
Stryd Bangor731 m
Turn left onto Old Station Yard.
Old Station Yard65 m
Turn left.
44 m
Make a right U-turn.
44 m
Turn right onto Old Station Yard.
Old Station Yard65 m
Turn right onto Stryd Bangor.
Stryd Bangor700 m
Keep left to stay on Stryd Bangor.
Stryd Bangor462 m
Keep right to stay on Stryd Bangor.
Stryd Bangor821 m
Enter Y Felinheli Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A487.
Y Felinheli Roundabout27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A487.
A487483 m
Keep straight to stay on A487.
A487512 m
Enter Parc Menai Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A487.
Parc Menai Roundabout93 m
Exit the roundabout onto A487.
A487322 m
Enter Treborth Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road Roundabout61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road1.0 km
Keep right to stay on Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road586 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Ffordd Caergybi/A5.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Caergybi/A5.
Ffordd Caergybi976 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Ffordd Caergybi/A5.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Caergybi/A5.
Ffordd Caergybi1.3 km
Turn right onto Ffriddoedd Road.
Ffriddoedd Road686 m
Turn left onto Trem Elidir.
Trem Elidir577 m
Turn left onto Belmont Road.
Belmont Road18 m
Turn left onto Penchwintan Road.
Penchwintan Road429 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Cynfal.
Ffordd Cynfal237 m
Move right onto Stryd Belmont.
Stryd Belmont93 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Euston.
Ffordd Euston349 m
Turn right onto Penchwintan Road.
Penchwintan Road352 m
Move left onto Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road472 m
Keep right to stay on Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road45 m
Turn right onto Rhodfa Penrhos.
Rhodfa Penrhos56 m
Keep left to stay on Rhodfa Penrhos.
Rhodfa Penrhos57 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Rhodfa Penrhos.
Rhodfa Penrhos114 m
Turn right onto Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road918 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Penrhos.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Penrhos.
Ffordd Penrhos39 m
Keep left to take Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road701 m
Keep left to stay on Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road40 m
Turn right.
245 m
Enter Treborth Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road Roundabout100 m
Exit the roundabout onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road1.0 km
Keep right to stay on Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road586 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Menai Bridge/A5.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge103 m
Turn right to stay on Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge486 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Telford Road/A545.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Telford Road/A545. Continue on A545.
A545626 m
Turn right onto St. George's Road.
St. George's Road143 m
Turn right to stay on St. George's Road.
St. George's Road32 m
Turn right onto Ffordd y Coleg.
Ffordd y Coleg136 m
Turn left onto High Street/A545. Continue on A545.
A545296 m
Keep right to stay on A545.
A545209 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Menai Bridge/A5.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge481 m
Turn left to stay on Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge111 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Treborth Road/A487.
69 m
Exit the roundabout onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road491 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Menai.
Ffordd Menai524 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Penrhos.
Ffordd Penrhos22 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Penrhos Road.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road917 m
Turn left onto Rhodfa Penrhos.
Rhodfa Penrhos112 m
Turn right onto Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road918 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Penrhos.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Penrhos.
Ffordd Penrhos39 m
Keep left to take Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road701 m
Keep left to stay on Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road40 m
Turn right.
245 m
Enter Treborth Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road Roundabout100 m
Exit the roundabout onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road1.0 km
Keep right to stay on Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road586 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Menai Bridge/A5.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge103 m
Turn right to stay on Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge486 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Telford Road/A545.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Telford Road/A545.
Telford Road1.3 km
Keep left to stay on A545.
A545260 m
Keep left to take Beaumaris Road/A545.
Beaumaris Road2.3 km
Keep straight to stay on Beaumaris Road/A545.
Beaumaris Road1.5 km
Keep left to stay on A545.
A5451.3 km
Turn left onto New Street.
New Street50 m
Turn left onto Lôn Rosemary Lane.
Lôn Rosemary Lane123 m
Make a sharp left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane42 m
Turn right onto West End/A545.
West End1.2 km
Keep right to take Beaumaris Road/A545.
Beaumaris Road4.7 km
Keep right to stay on A545.
A545389 m
Keep right to stay on A545.
A545209 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Menai Bridge/A5.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge481 m
Turn left to stay on Menai Bridge/A5.
Menai Bridge111 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Treborth Road/A487.
69 m
Exit the roundabout onto Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road601 m
Keep left to stay on Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road100 m
Keep left to stay on Treborth Road/A487.
Treborth Road893 m
Enter Treborth Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A55.
Treborth Road Roundabout86 m
Exit the roundabout onto A55.
A5588 m
Take exit 9 onto A55 towards Conwy/Betws-y-coed.
A554.3 km
Keep right to stay on A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A55100 m
Keep right to stay on A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A55132 m
Keep right to stay on A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A55146 m
Keep right to stay on A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A5550 m
Take exit 11 onto A5 towards Betws-y-coed/Gwasanaethau / Services.
A55310 m
Enter Llys y Gwynt Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A5.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5143 m
Keep left to stay on A5.
A5509 m
Keep right to stay on A5.
A5244 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A5.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5520 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai314 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai280 m
Keep left to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai108 m
Keep left to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai224 m
Keep left to stay on A5.
A5932 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street26 m
Turn right to stay on High Street.
High Street21 m
Turn right onto Lon Glan Mor / Beach Road/A5. Continue on A5.
A51.0 km
Keep left to take Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai101 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai154 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai280 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai193 m
Keep left to stay on Ffordd Llandegai/A5.
Ffordd Llandegai121 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Llandegai.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Llandegai.
Ffordd Llandegai317 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Llandegai.
Ffordd Llandegai757 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Bangor · Route 1 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.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Y Felinheli Roundabout, Parc Menai Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 7.1 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, 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.
St Cross Church
Start near St Cross Church.
Assemblies of God Bangor Pentecostal Church
Continue to Assemblies of God Bangor Pentecostal Church.
Capel y Fynnon
Continue to Capel y Fynnon.
Bangor Bus Station
Continue to Bangor Bus Station.
Bangor Railway Station
Continue to Bangor Railway Station.
St David's Church
Continue to St David's Church.
Y Felinheli Roundabout
Continue to Y Felinheli Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
RIAH
Continue to RIAH.
Parc Menai Roundabout
Continue to Parc Menai Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Y Bistro
Continue to Y Bistro.
Coleg Menai
Continue to Coleg Menai.
Upper Bangor Leisure Centre
Continue to Upper Bangor Leisure Centre.
Ffordd Penrhos
Continue to Ffordd Penrhos.
Penrhos
Continue to Penrhos.
Goleufryn
Continue to Goleufryn.
Ysgol y Faenol
Continue to Ysgol y Faenol.
English Presbyterian Church
Continue to English Presbyterian Church.
Penrhos Garnedd
Continue to Penrhos Garnedd.
Top Coed Mawr
Continue to Top Coed Mawr.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange
Finish back near Llys y Gwynt Interchange, completing the loop.
20 roundabouts · 9 turns
8 roundabouts · 15 turns
11 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
7 roundabouts · 16 turns
This route is 71.2 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Bangor test centre, not an official DVSA route.