Near Barnsley test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 2 roundabouts, 26 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 37 navigation steps.
This is an independent 123.3 km practice loop near Barnsley 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 Alhambra Roundabout and Manchester 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, 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 churches, named junctions, pubs and schools, 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 255-step drive on real, named roads (about 127.2 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 Road566 m
Take the A628 exit on the right.
A628242 m
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway.
A6133436 m
Turn right onto Woodland Drive.
Woodland Drive494 m
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway.
A6133160 m
Turn right onto A628.
A62841 m
Turn left to stay on A628.
A6281.5 km
Enter Townend Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A628/West Way.
Townend Roundabout94 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/West Way.
A628405 m
Continue.
23 m
Keep left to take A628/West Way.
A628232 m
Enter Alhambra Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A61/Harborough Hill Road.
Alhambra Roundabout49 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Harborough Hill Road.
A61939 m
Enter Old Mill Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Old Mill Lane/A61.
Old Mill Roundabout149 m
Exit the roundabout onto Old Mill Lane/A61. Continue on A61.
A611.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Wakefield Road/A61.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wakefield Road/A61.
Wakefield Road579 m
Keep right to stay on Wakefield Road/A61.
Wakefield Road119 m
Keep left to stay on Wakefield Road/A61.
Wakefield Road1.3 km
Keep left to stay on A61.
A61154 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.
Kingsway261 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 Road469 m
Turn left onto A637/Barnsley Road.
A63783 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 6th exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
117 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637876 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 2nd exit onto A635/Barugh Green Road.
Barnsley Road26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A635/Barugh Green Road.
A63565 m
Keep straight to stay on A635/Barugh Green Road.
A63582 m
Move right onto Gawber Road.
Gawber Road34 m
Keep right to stay on Gawber Road.
Gawber Road1.5 km
Keep right to take Gawber Road.
Gawber Road50 m
Turn right onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road147 m
Turn left onto Summer Lane.
Summer Lane627 m
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road118 m
Turn left onto Farrar Street.
Farrar Street55 m
Turn left onto Newton Street.
Newton Street136 m
Turn left onto Summer Lane.
Summer Lane673 m
Turn right onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road146 m
Turn left onto Gawber Road.
Gawber Road1.5 km
Keep left to stay on 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.
A6371.7 km
Keep right to take A637/Huddersfield Road.
A637866 m
Keep left to stay on A637.
A6371.7 km
Enter Haigh Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
Haigh Roundabout113 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
A637433 m
Keep left to stay on A637/Huddersfield Road.
A6371.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
A6371.4 km
Enter Denby Dale Road and take the 2nd exit onto A637/Bar Lane.
Denby Dale Road101 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Bar Lane. Continue on A637.
A637578 m
Keep left to take A637/Bar Lane.
A637132 m
Keep left to stay on A637/Bar Lane.
A637147 m
Turn right onto Stocksmoor Road/B6117.
Stocksmoor Road88 m
Keep straight to stay on Stocksmoor Road/B6117.
Stocksmoor Road155 m
Keep left to stay on Stocksmoor Road/B6117.
Stocksmoor Road2.1 km
Keep right to take Netherton Lane/B6117.
Netherton Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto A642/Bridge Road. Continue on A642.
A6421.0 km
Move left onto Quarry Hill/B6128. Continue on B6128.
B6128328 m
Turn left onto Park Street.
Park Street91 m
Turn left onto Cross Park Street.
Cross Park Street37 m
Turn right onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street107 m
Turn right onto Jenkin Road.
Jenkin Road40 m
Turn right onto Park Street.
Park Street196 m
Turn right onto Highfield Road/B6128.
Highfield Road255 m
Turn right onto A642/Southfield Lane. Continue on A642.
A6421.1 km
Turn left onto Netherton Lane/B6117.
Netherton Lane328 m
Keep straight to stay on Netherton Lane/B6117.
Netherton Lane988 m
Keep right to stay on B6117.
B61171.9 km
Keep right to take Stocksmoor Road/B6117.
Stocksmoor Road412 m
Turn left onto A637/Bar Lane.
A637862 m
Enter Denby Dale Road and take the 2nd exit onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
Denby Dale Road96 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
A6371.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
A63795 m
Keep right to stay on Huddersfield Road.
Huddersfield Road1.5 km
Move left onto A637.
A63741 m
Enter Haigh Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
Haigh Roundabout452 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Huddersfield Road.
A6372.6 km
Keep left to stay on A637.
A6371.6 km
Keep right to stay on A637/Barnsley Road.
A63760 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637876 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 4th exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
Barnsley Road80 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637871 m
Keep right to stay on A637/Claycliffe Road.
A6377 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 4th exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
Barnsley Road71 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637876 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 3rd exit.
Barnsley Road517 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Barugh Green Road/A635.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barugh Green Road/A635. Continue on A635.
A635670 m
Keep left to take Cawthorne Road/A635.
Cawthorne Road273 m
Keep left to stay on A635.
A635217 m
Keep right to take Lane Head Road/A635.
Lane Head Road1.7 km
Keep right to take Barnsley Road/A635.
Barnsley Road63 m
Turn left onto Silkstone Lane.
Silkstone Lane45 m
Keep right to stay on Silkstone Lane.
Silkstone Lane1.8 km
Turn right onto Mayberry Drive.
Mayberry Drive291 m
Turn left onto Bull Haw Lane.
Bull Haw Lane46 m
Turn right onto Silkstone Lane.
Silkstone Lane29 m
Turn left onto Barnsley Road.
Barnsley Road72 m
Keep left to stay on Barnsley Road.
Barnsley Road684 m
Keep right to take A628.
A6281.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A628/Whinby Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/Whinby Road.
A628135 m
Keep left to stay on A628/Whinby Road.
A628596 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A628/Whinby Road.
19 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 1st exit onto A628/Whinby Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/Whinby Road.
A628175 m
Enter Dodworth Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto M1.
Dodworth Interchange215 m
Exit the roundabout onto M1.
M16.1 km
Take exit 36 onto A61 towards Sheffield (North)/Barnsley.
509 m
Enter Birdwell Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A61/Westwood New Road.
Birdwell Interchange450 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Westwood New Road.
A61387 m
Take the exit on the right.
Westwood New Road67 m
Turn right to stay on Westwood New Road.
Westwood New Road414 m
Turn left onto New Road.
New Road971 m
Turn right onto Silkstone Close.
Silkstone Close115 m
Turn right to stay on Silkstone Close.
Silkstone Close23 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Silkstone Close.
Silkstone Close23 m
Turn left to stay on Silkstone Close.
Silkstone Close115 m
Turn left onto New Road.
New Road958 m
Turn right onto Westwood New Road.
Westwood New Road437 m
Turn left onto A61/Westwood New Road.
A61460 m
Enter Birdwell Interchange and take the 2nd exit.
Birdwell Interchange24 m
Exit the roundabout.
117 m
Take the M1 ramp towards The SOUTH.
108 m
Take the M1 ramp on the right towards The SOUTH.
M112.9 km
Take exit 38 onto A637 towards Huddersfield.
442 m
Enter Haigh Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Haigh Roundabout451 m
Exit the roundabout onto Haigh Lane.
Haigh Lane168 m
Keep right to stay on Haigh Lane.
Haigh Lane996 m
Keep left to stay on Haigh Lane towards Haigh.
Haigh Lane355 m
Turn right towards Staincross.
Woolley Edge Lane106 m
Keep left to stay on Woolley Edge Lane towards Staincross.
Woolley Edge Lane107 m
Keep right to stay on Woolley Edge Lane towards Staincross.
Woolley Edge Lane1.0 km
Keep left to stay on Woolley Edge Lane.
Woolley Edge Lane1.2 km
Keep straight to take Windhill Lane.
Windhill Lane493 m
Turn right onto Stamford Way.
Stamford Way98 m
Turn right onto Edgehill Road.
Edgehill Road16 m
Turn left onto Lane Head Rise.
Lane Head Rise270 m
Turn right onto Lane Head Close.
Lane Head Close32 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Lane Head Close.
Lane Head Close32 m
Turn left onto Lane Head Rise.
Lane Head Rise131 m
Keep right to stay on Lane Head Rise.
Lane Head Rise139 m
Turn right onto Edgehill Road.
Edgehill Road16 m
Turn left onto Stamford Way.
Stamford Way98 m
Turn right onto Staincross Common.
Staincross Common835 m
Turn right onto Greenside/B6428.
Greenside465 m
Turn right onto Towngate/B6131.
Towngate36 m
Turn left onto Spark Lane/B6428.
Spark Lane1.7 km
Turn right onto Dearne Hall Road.
Dearne Hall Road469 m
Turn right onto A637/Barnsley Road.
A637592 m
Turn left onto Bence Lane.
Bence Lane270 m
Turn right onto Tivydale Drive.
Tivydale Drive108 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Tivydale Drive.
Tivydale Drive108 m
Turn left onto Bence Lane.
Bence Lane271 m
Turn right onto A637/Barnsley Road.
A637615 m
Keep right to stay on A637/Barnsley Road.
A63760 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637876 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 4th exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
Barnsley Road80 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637871 m
Keep right to stay on A637/Claycliffe Road.
A6377 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 4th exit onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
Barnsley Road71 m
Exit the roundabout onto A637/Claycliffe Road.
A637876 m
Enter Barnsley Road and take the 2nd exit onto A635/Barugh Green Road.
Barnsley Road26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A635/Barugh Green Road.
A635147 m
Move right onto Gawber Road.
Gawber Road34 m
Keep right to stay on Gawber Road.
Gawber Road747 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 Road665 m
Take the A628 exit on the right.
A628134 m
Keep right to stay on A628/Dodworth Road.
A628107 m
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway. Continue on A6133.
A61331.1 km
Turn right onto Keresforth Hill Road/B6099.
Keresforth Hill Road1.4 km
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane5 m
Keep left to stay on Green Lane.
Green Lane272 m
Turn left onto Locke Road.
Locke Road61 m
Keep right to stay on Locke Road.
Locke Road72 m
Turn right.
37 m
Make a right U-turn.
37 m
Turn left onto Locke Road.
Locke Road134 m
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane71 m
Turn left onto Saville Road.
Saville Road237 m
Turn left onto Gilroyd Lane.
Gilroyd Lane301 m
Turn right onto Keresforth Hill Road/B6099.
Keresforth Hill Road987 m
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 Road627 m
Turn left onto Intake Lane.
Intake Lane746 m
Turn left onto Redbrook Road.
Redbrook Road664 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 1st exit onto Barugh Green Road/A635.
Barnsley Road18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barugh Green Road/A635.
Barugh Green Road395 m
Keep right to stay on Barugh Green Road/A635.
Barugh Green Road62 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Barugh Green Road/A635.
80 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.
A635630 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 Road649 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.
A628241 m
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway. Continue on A6133.
A61332.7 km
Turn right onto A61/Sheffield Road. Continue on A61.
A611.5 km
Turn left onto Bank End Road.
Bank End Road205 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street498 m
Turn right onto Oakdale.
Oakdale463 m
Keep left to stay on Oakdale.
Oakdale320 m
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street136 m
Turn left onto Bank End Road.
Bank End Road205 m
Turn right onto A61/Upper Sheffield Road.
A61215 m
Keep right to stay on A61/Upper Sheffield Road.
A611.3 km
Turn left onto A6133/Park Road. Continue on A6133.
A61332.7 km
Turn right onto A628.
A62860 m
Turn left to stay on A628.
A62845 m
Keep left to take Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road768 m
Turn right onto West Road.
West Road57 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Barnsley · Route 16 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.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Alhambra Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 54.6 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.
Hope House Church
Start near Hope House Church.
Alhambra Roundabout
Continue to Alhambra Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Staincross Christian Fellowship
Continue to Staincross Christian Fellowship.
Royal Hotel
Continue to Royal Hotel.
Summer Lane Primary School
Continue to Summer Lane Primary School.
Rose and Crown
Continue to Rose and Crown.
Church in West Bretton
Continue to Church in West Bretton.
Methodist Trinity Church
Continue to Methodist Trinity Church.
Di Bosco Coffee and Champagne Bar
Continue to Di Bosco Coffee and Champagne Bar.
Bingley Arms
Continue to Bingley Arms.
Chestnut Tree
Continue to Chestnut Tree.
All Saints and St. James
Continue to All Saints and St. James.
Manchester Road
Continue to Manchester Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Cock
Continue to Cock.
Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School
Continue to Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School.
Old Chapel Care Home
Continue to Old Chapel Care Home.
St John the Evangelist
Continue to St John the Evangelist.
St Edward The Confessor
Continue to St Edward The Confessor.
Upper Sheffield Road/Bluebell Bank
Continue to Upper Sheffield Road/Bluebell Bank.
Locke Park WMC
Finish back near Locke Park WMC, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 23 turns · 3 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 21 turns · 3 sets of lights
1 roundabout · 25 turns · 7 sets of lights
20 turns
This route is 123.3 km and takes about 50 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Barnsley test centre, not an official DVSA route.