Near Barnsley test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 21 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 33 navigation steps.
This is an independent 80.5 km practice loop near Barnsley test centre, taking roughly 45 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 Lee Lane Roundabout, Whinby Road and Barugh Green Road. 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, 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, churches, shops 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 Barnsley 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 179-step drive on real, named roads (about 80.5 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north.
36 m
Turn left onto West Road.
West Road84 m
Turn left onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road386 m
Turn left to stay on Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road103 m
Turn left onto St Martins Close.
St Martins Close42 m
Turn left to stay on St Martins Close.
St Martins Close38 m
Turn right onto St Owens Drive.
St Owens Drive173 m
Turn right onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road741 m
Turn right onto Summer Lane.
Summer Lane972 m
Enter Townend Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A628.
Townend Roundabout133 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628.
A62827 m
Keep left to stay on A628.
A6281.3 km
Take the exit on the right.
A6281.0 km
Turn right onto South Street.
South Street82 m
Turn left onto Shaw Lane.
Shaw Lane468 m
Turn right onto Racecommon Road.
Racecommon Road605 m
Turn right onto A6133/Park Road. Continue on A6133.
A6133545 m
Turn right onto Keresforth Close.
Keresforth Close178 m
Move right.
92 m
Turn right.
79 m
Move left onto Keresforth Close.
Keresforth Close160 m
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway. Continue on A6133.
A6133224 m
Turn right onto Keresforth Hill Road/B6099.
Keresforth Hill Road1.0 km
Turn left onto Gilroyd Lane.
Gilroyd Lane242 m
Keep left to stay on Gilroyd Lane.
Gilroyd Lane58 m
Turn right onto Saville Road.
Saville Road788 m
Turn left onto Smithywood Lane.
Smithywood Lane59 m
Keep left to stay on Smithywood Lane.
Smithywood Lane105 m
Turn left onto Bradwell Avenue.
Bradwell Avenue172 m
Turn left to stay on Bradwell Avenue.
Bradwell Avenue32 m
Keep left to stay on Bradwell Avenue.
Bradwell Avenue123 m
Turn right onto Smithywood Lane.
Smithywood Lane462 m
Move left onto High Street/B6099.
High Street43 m
Turn left onto Strafford Walk.
Strafford Walk128 m
Turn left onto Stainborough Close.
Stainborough Close30 m
Turn right to stay on Stainborough Close.
Stainborough Close38 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Stainborough Close.
Stainborough Close38 m
Turn left to stay on Stainborough Close.
Stainborough Close30 m
Turn right onto Strafford Walk.
Strafford Walk128 m
Turn right onto High Street/B6099. Continue on B6099.
B60991.9 km
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway.
A6133305 m
Keep right to stay on A6133/Broadway.
A6133752 m
Turn right onto A628.
A62860 m
Turn left to stay on A628.
A62845 m
Keep left to take Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road628 m
Turn left onto Intake Lane.
Intake Lane746 m
Turn left onto Redbrook Road.
Redbrook Road663 m
Keep left to take Gawber Road.
Gawber Road131 m
Move left onto A635/Barugh Green Road.
A635147 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 6th exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
Barnsley Road128 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637879 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A637/Barnsley Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Barnsley Road.
A63792 m
Turn right onto Dearne Hall Road.
Dearne Hall Road101 m
Keep left to stay on Dearne Hall Road.
Dearne Hall Road366 m
Turn left onto Dearne Hall Road/B6428.
Dearne Hall Road64 m
Keep straight to stay on B6428.
B64281.6 km
Turn right onto Towngate/B6131.
Towngate16 m
Turn left onto Greenside/B6428.
Greenside710 m
Turn right onto Barnsley Road/A61.
Barnsley Road40 m
Turn left onto Lee Lane/B6428.
Lee Lane1.7 km
Enter Lee Lane Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lee Lane/B6428.
Lee Lane Roundabout23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lee Lane/B6428. Continue on B6428.
B64281.3 km
Keep right to take Midland Road/B6428.
Midland Road666 m
Turn left onto North Road.
North Road374 m
Turn left.
197 m
Move left onto Common Lane.
Common Lane860 m
Turn left onto Station Road/B6132.
Station Road135 m
Turn right onto Oakwood Road.
Oakwood Road331 m
Turn right onto High Street/B6428. Continue on B6428.
B6428885 m
Enter Lee Lane Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lee Lane/B6428.
Lee Lane Roundabout24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lee Lane/B6428.
Lee Lane1.7 km
Turn right onto Barnsley Road/A61.
Barnsley Road40 m
Turn left onto Shaw Lane/B6428. Continue on B6428.
B6428425 m
Turn right onto New Road.
New Road582 m
Turn left onto Broadway.
Broadway225 m
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway260 m
Turn left onto Towngate/B6131.
Towngate281 m
Turn right onto Spark Lane/B6428. Continue on B6428.
B64281.7 km
Turn right onto Dearne Hall Road.
Dearne Hall Road468 m
Turn left onto A637/Barnsley Road.
A63783 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 7th exit onto Barugh Lane/B6428.
136 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barugh Lane/B6428.
Barugh Lane806 m
Keep left to take Higham Common Road.
Higham Common Road1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Higham Common Road.
98 m
Exit the roundabout onto Higham Common Road.
Higham Common Road228 m
Keep right to take Higham Lane.
Higham Lane826 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A628/Whinby Road.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/Whinby Road.
A628300 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A628/Whinby Road.
58 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/Whinby Road.
A62895 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Barnsley Road/B6449.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnsley Road/B6449.
Barnsley Road89 m
Turn right onto Castle View/B6449. Continue on B6449.
B6449445 m
Turn right onto Higham Lane.
Higham Lane205 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Higham Lane.
Higham Lane205 m
Turn left onto Barnsley Road/B6449. Continue on B6449.
B6449445 m
Turn left onto Barnsley Road/B6449.
Barnsley Road87 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A628/Whinby Road.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/Whinby Road.
A62891 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A628/Whinby Road.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/Whinby Road.
A62893 m
Keep left to stay on A628/Whinby Road.
A628120 m
Keep right to stay on A628/Whinby Road.
A62889 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Higham Lane.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Higham Lane.
Higham Lane1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Higham Common Road.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Higham Common Road.
Higham Common Road663 m
Keep right to stay on Higham Common Road.
Higham Common Road720 m
Turn right onto Barugh Green Road/A635.
Barugh Green Road489 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Barugh Green Road/A635.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barugh Green Road/A635.
Barugh Green Road456 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 3rd exit onto A635/Barugh Green Road.
Barnsley Road43 m
Exit the roundabout onto A635/Barugh Green Road.
A635114 m
Keep straight to stay on A635.
A635119 m
Keep right to take A635/Wilthorpe Road.
A635544 m
Turn right onto Ripley Grove.
Ripley Grove53 m
Turn left onto Wilthorpe Lane.
Wilthorpe Lane59 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Wilthorpe Lane.
Wilthorpe Lane59 m
Turn right onto Ripley Grove.
Ripley Grove53 m
Turn left onto A635/Wilthorpe Road.
A635629 m
Make a sharp left onto Gawber Road.
Gawber Road16 m
Keep right to stay on Gawber Road.
Gawber Road115 m
Keep right to stay on Gawber Road.
Gawber Road650 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street131 m
Keep straight to stay on Church Street.
Church Street195 m
Turn right onto Beever Lane.
Beever Lane237 m
Turn right onto Redbrook Road.
Redbrook Road251 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street131 m
Keep straight to stay on Church Street.
Church Street66 m
Turn left onto Wharfedale Road.
Wharfedale Road53 m
Keep straight to stay on Wharfedale Road.
Wharfedale Road321 m
Turn left onto Oakfield Walk.
Oakfield Walk285 m
Turn right onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road100 m
Turn left to stay on Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road566 m
Take the A628 exit on the right.
A628756 m
Enter Dodworth Interchange and take the 1st exit onto M1.
Dodworth Interchange13 m
Exit the roundabout onto M1.
M111.0 km
Take exit 35 onto A629 towards Rotherham (North).
64 m
Take exit 35 onto A629 towards Rotherham (North).
107 m
Take exit 35 onto A629 towards Rotherham (North).
161 m
Take exit 35 onto A629 towards Rotherham (North).
233 m
Enter Thorpe Hesley Interchange and take the 2nd exit.
Thorpe Hesley Interchange294 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cowley Lane/A629.
Cowley Lane153 m
Keep right to stay on Cowley Lane/A629.
Cowley Lane531 m
Turn left onto Nether Lane/B6087.
Nether Lane172 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Nether Lane/B6087.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Nether Lane/B6087. Continue on B6087.
B60871.4 km
Turn left onto Church Street/B6087. Continue on B6087.
B6087353 m
Turn left onto Stocks Hill/B6087.
Stocks Hill113 m
Turn right onto Yew Lane/B6087.
Yew Lane699 m
Keep left to stay on Yew Lane/B6087.
Yew Lane117 m
Turn right onto Coppin Square.
Coppin Square89 m
Turn left onto Yew Greave Crescent.
Yew Greave Crescent159 m
Turn right onto Loakfield Drive.
Loakfield Drive123 m
Turn right onto Creswick Avenue.
Creswick Avenue72 m
Turn right onto Oakwood Avenue.
Oakwood Avenue145 m
Turn left onto Yew Greave Crescent.
Yew Greave Crescent93 m
Turn right onto Coppin Square.
Coppin Square89 m
Turn left onto Yew Lane/B6087.
Yew Lane617 m
Keep right to stay on Yew Lane/B6087.
Yew Lane199 m
Turn left onto Stocks Hill/B6087.
Stocks Hill113 m
Turn right onto Town End Road/B6087.
Town End Road7 m
Keep left to stay on B6087.
B6087345 m
Turn right onto Mill Road/B6087. Continue on B6087.
B60871.3 km
Keep left to stay on Nether Lane/B6087.
Nether Lane109 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Nether Lane/B6087.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Nether Lane/B6087.
Nether Lane176 m
Turn right onto Cowley Lane/A629.
Cowley Lane681 m
Enter Thorpe Hesley Interchange and take the 1st exit.
Thorpe Hesley Interchange21 m
Exit the roundabout onto M1.
M110.4 km
Take exit 37 onto A628 towards Barnsley/Manchester.
1.0 km
Take exit 37 on the right onto A628 towards Barnsley/Manchester.
61 m
Enter Dodworth Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A628/Dodworth Road.
Dodworth Interchange215 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/Dodworth Road. Continue on A628.
A628540 m
Turn left to stay on A628.
A62864 m
Keep left to take Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road767 m
Turn right onto West Road.
West Road57 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Barnsley · Route 12 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.
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 Lee Lane Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 23.7 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 (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.
George And Dragon
Start near George And Dragon.
Barnsley Muslim Community Centre
Continue to Barnsley Muslim Community Centre.
St Edward The Confessor
Continue to St Edward The Confessor.
Samantha's Salon
Continue to Samantha's Salon.
New Inn
Continue to New Inn.
St John the Evangelist
Continue to St John the Evangelist.
Lee Lane Roundabout
Continue to Lee Lane Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Salvation Army - Royston
Continue to Salvation Army - Royston.
Staincross WMC
Continue to Staincross WMC.
Crown and Anchor
Continue to Crown and Anchor.
Engineers Arms
Continue to Engineers Arms.
Whinby Road
Continue to Whinby Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Barugh Green Road
Continue to Barugh Green Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Chestnut Tree
Continue to Chestnut Tree.
Gawber Pre-School
Continue to Gawber Pre-School.
Cock
Continue to Cock.
Cowley Hill/Smithy Wood Road
Continue to Cowley Hill/Smithy Wood Road.
Mill Road/The Common
Continue to Mill Road/The Common.
Yew Lane/Coppin Square
Continue to Yew Lane/Coppin Square.
Cowley Hill/Smithywood Road
Finish back near Cowley Hill/Smithywood Road, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 26 turns · 3 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 23 turns · 3 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 25 turns · 7 sets of lights
20 turns
This route is 80.5 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Barnsley test centre, not an official DVSA route.