Near Bangor test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 20 roundabouts and 9 turns across 31 navigation steps.
This is an independent 77.3 km practice route near Bangor test centre, taking roughly 50 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 Llys y Gwynt Interchange, Caernarfon Road Interchange and Parc Menai 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 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 shops, churches, named junctions 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 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 218-step drive on real, named roads (about 77.2 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 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 2nd exit onto A5.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5519 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5304 m
Keep left to stay on A5.
A5582 m
Enter Llys y Gwynt Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A5.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange138 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5164 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Felin Hen Road/A4244.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Felin Hen Road/A4244. Continue on A4244.
A42441.5 km
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street462 m
Move right to stay on High Street.
High Street112 m
Turn right.
8 m
Turn left onto Bro Infryn.
Bro Infryn34 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street115 m
Keep left to stay on High Street.
High Street482 m
Turn left onto A4244.
A42441.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5155 m
Enter Llys y Gwynt Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A5.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange135 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.
A51.6 km
Keep straight to take Garth Road/A5.
Garth Road100 m
Keep left to stay on Garth Road/A5.
Garth Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol145 m
Turn left onto Farrar Road/A5. Continue on A5.
A5293 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 stay on 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 Road111 m
Take exit 10 onto A55 towards Conwy/Caer / Chester.
A5533 m
Take exit 10 on the right onto A55 towards Conwy/Caer / Chester.
A553.0 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.
A55278 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.
A5173 m
Turn right.
93 m
Make a sharp right.
177 m
Turn right.
8 m
Make a right U-turn.
110 m
Keep left at the fork.
74 m
Make a sharp left.
93 m
Turn left onto A5.
A5170 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A5.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5217 m
Keep left to stay on A5.
A5669 m
Enter Llys y Gwynt Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A55.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange221 m
Exit the roundabout onto A55.
A5545 m
Take exit 11 on the right onto A55 towards Caergybi / Holyhead/Caernarfon.
A554.7 km
Keep left to stay on A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A5552 m
Take exit 9 onto A487 towards Bangor/Caernarfon.
A55320 m
Enter Parc Menai Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Parc Menai Roundabout98 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc130 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Y Parc.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc456 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Gelli Morgan.
Ffordd Gelli Morgan218 m
Turn right onto Ffordd y Llyn.
Ffordd y Llyn269 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc87 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Y Parc.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc130 m
Enter Parc Menai Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A487.
Parc Menai Roundabout56 m
Exit the roundabout onto A487.
A487322 m
Enter Treborth Road Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A55.
Treborth Road Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A55.
A5548 m
Take exit 9 onto A55 towards Conwy/Betws-y-coed.
A554.4 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 3rd exit onto A5.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange219 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5164 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A5.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5183 m
Keep right to stay on A5.
A5221 m
Keep right to stay on A5.
A51.1 km
Keep left to take A5/Bryn Bella.
A52.9 km
Turn left onto Allt Pen-y-Bryn.
Allt Pen-y-Bryn138 m
Move right onto Pant Glas.
Pant Glas869 m
Turn left onto Stryd Morgan.
Stryd Morgan61 m
Turn left onto Hill Street.
Hill Street121 m
Turn left onto Short Street.
Short Street98 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Gerlan.
Ffordd Gerlan252 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Gerlan.
Ffordd Gerlan329 m
Keep left to take Pant Glas.
Pant Glas138 m
Move left onto Allt Pen-y-Bryn.
Allt Pen-y-Bryn138 m
Turn right onto A5/Stryd Fawr. Continue on A5.
A52.9 km
Keep right to stay on A5.
A51.1 km
Keep right to stay on A5.
A5409 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A5.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto A5.
A5155 m
Enter Llys y Gwynt Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A55.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange4 m
Exit the roundabout onto A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A554.8 km
Keep left to stay on A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A55118 m
Keep left to stay on A55/E 22/Gwibffordd Gogledd Cymru / North Wales Expressway.
A551.8 km
Take exit 8A onto A5 towards Porthaethwy / Menai Bridge/Beaumaris.
A55150 m
Keep right to take exit 8A to stay on A55 towards Porthaethwy / Menai Bridge/Beaumaris.
A5553 m
Take exit 8A onto A5 towards Porthaethwy / Menai Bridge/Beaumaris.
A5528 m
Turn right onto Holyhead Road/A5.
Holyhead Road72 m
Keep right to stay on Holyhead Road/A5.
Holyhead Road116 m
Keep right to stay on Holyhead Road/A5.
Holyhead Road1.4 km
Turn left onto Pentraeth Road/B5420.
Pentraeth Road346 m
Turn right onto Glyn Estate.
Glyn Estate55 m
Turn left to stay on Glyn Estate.
Glyn Estate19 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Glyn Estate.
Glyn Estate19 m
Turn right to stay on Glyn Estate.
Glyn Estate55 m
Turn left onto Pentraeth Road/B5420.
Pentraeth Road348 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Mona Road/A5.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mona Road/A5.
Mona Road396 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Menai Bridge/A5.
37 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 2nd exit onto A487.
Treborth Road Roundabout47 m
Exit the roundabout onto A487.
A48733 m
Keep right to stay on A487.
A487308 m
Enter Parc Menai Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Parc Menai Roundabout50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc131 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Y Parc.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc456 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Gelli Morgan.
Ffordd Gelli Morgan217 m
Turn right onto Ffordd y Llyn.
Ffordd y Llyn269 m
Turn left onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc87 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Y Parc.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Y Parc.
Ffordd Y Parc130 m
Enter Parc Menai Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A487.
Parc Menai Roundabout56 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 Road109 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Menai.
Ffordd Menai523 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 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 left onto Penrhos Road.
Penrhos Road27 m
Turn right onto Ffordd Coed Mawr.
Ffordd Coed Mawr116 m
Keep straight to stay on Ffordd Coed Mawr.
Ffordd Coed Mawr118 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ffordd Coed Mawr.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Coed Mawr.
Ffordd Coed Mawr202 m
Turn left onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road415 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
52 m
Exit the roundabout onto Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road455 m
Keep left to stay on Caernarfon Road/A4087.
Caernarfon Road323 m
Turn left onto Station Road/B5107.
Station Road136 m
Move right to stay on Station Road/B5107.
Station Road26 m
Move right onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol84 m
Keep right to stay on Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol180 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ffordd Deiniol/A5.
Ffordd Deiniol63 m
Keep right to stay on A5.
A52.8 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 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.
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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Parc Menai Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 31.9 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, 50, 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.
Howdens Joinery
Start near Howdens Joinery.
St Cross Church
Continue to St Cross Church.
Greggs
Continue to Greggs.
Llys y Gwynt Interchange
Continue to Llys y Gwynt Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Lord Nelson
Continue to Lord Nelson.
Bangor Bus Station
Continue to Bangor Bus Station.
Ffordd Deiniol
Continue to Ffordd Deiniol.
Union
Continue to Union.
Caernarfon Road Interchange
Continue to Caernarfon Road Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Parc Menai Roundabout
Continue to Parc Menai Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Christ Church
Continue to Christ Church.
Jerusalem
Continue to Jerusalem.
Bethania
Continue to Bethania.
Tŷ Isaf
Continue to Tŷ Isaf.
Antelope
Continue to Antelope.
Bridge Inn
Continue to Bridge Inn.
Penrhos Garnedd
Continue to Penrhos Garnedd.
Top Coed Mawr
Continue to Top Coed Mawr.
Bangor
Continue to Bangor.
Bangor Railway Station
Finish back near Bangor Railway Station, completing the loop.
11 roundabouts · 12 turns · 3 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 15 turns
11 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
7 roundabouts · 16 turns
This route is 77.3 km and takes about 50 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Bangor test centre, not an official DVSA route.