Near Barnsley test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 1 roundabout, 25 turns and 7 signalled junctions across 38 navigation steps.
This is an independent 55.0 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 Cross Keys Roundabout and Olympus Way. 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, parks, churches and stations, 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 147-step drive on real, named roads (about 59.4 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 Road140 m
Turn right onto Intake Lane.
Intake Lane746 m
Turn right onto Redbrook Road.
Redbrook Road31 m
Turn right onto Limes Avenue.
Limes Avenue230 m
Turn left onto Downes Crescent.
Downes Crescent147 m
Turn left to stay on Downes Crescent.
Downes Crescent71 m
Turn left onto Limes Avenue.
Limes Avenue101 m
Turn right onto Downes Crescent.
Downes Crescent136 m
Turn left onto Pennine Way.
Pennine Way23 m
Keep left to stay on Pennine Way.
Pennine Way51 m
Turn right onto Warner Road.
Warner Road349 m
Turn right onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road169 m
Turn right onto Intake Lane.
Intake Lane746 m
Turn right onto Redbrook Road.
Redbrook Road31 m
Turn right onto Limes Avenue.
Limes Avenue230 m
Turn right onto Downes Crescent.
Downes Crescent136 m
Turn right onto Pennine Way.
Pennine Way77 m
Turn left onto Intake Lane.
Intake Lane278 m
Turn left onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road140 m
Turn right onto West Road.
West Road131 m
Turn left onto Cresswell Street.
Cresswell Street110 m
Turn left to stay on Cresswell Street.
Cresswell Street95 m
Turn left onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road1.1 km
Take the A628 exit on the right.
A628134 m
Keep right to stay on A628/Dodworth Road.
A628107 m
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway.
A6133839 m
Turn left onto Keresforth Close.
Keresforth Close185 m
Turn left to stay on Keresforth Close.
Keresforth Close24 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Keresforth Close.
Keresforth Close24 m
Turn right to stay on Keresforth Close.
Keresforth Close186 m
Turn left onto A6133/Broadway.
A61331.8 km
Turn left onto A61/Sheffield Road.
A61444 m
Enter Alhambra Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A628/West Way.
Alhambra Roundabout28 m
Exit the roundabout onto A628/West Way.
A628207 m
Keep left to stay on A628/West Way.
A628479 m
Enter Townend Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Summer Lane.
Townend Roundabout82 m
Exit the roundabout onto Summer Lane.
Summer Lane565 m
Turn right onto Hope Street.
Hope Street201 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Hope Street.
Hope Street201 m
Turn left onto Summer Lane.
Summer Lane333 m
Keep right to stay on Summer Lane.
Summer Lane232 m
Enter Townend Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A628/West Way.
Townend Roundabout58 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 3rd exit onto A61/Sheffield Road.
Alhambra Roundabout95 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Sheffield Road.
A6185 m
Keep left to stay on A61/Sheffield Road.
A6157 m
Keep right to stay on A61/Sheffield Road.
A61313 m
Turn right onto A6133/Park Road.
A6133309 m
Turn left onto Warren Quarry Lane.
Warren Quarry Lane99 m
Keep left to stay on Warren Quarry Lane.
Warren Quarry Lane112 m
Keep right to stay on Warren Quarry Lane.
Warren Quarry Lane103 m
Keep right to stay on Warren Quarry Lane.
Warren Quarry Lane36 m
Turn right onto Warren Crescent.
Warren Crescent190 m
Turn right onto Kenworthy Road.
Kenworthy Road56 m
Move right onto Highstone Avenue.
Highstone Avenue390 m
Turn left onto A6133/Park Road. Continue on A6133.
A61331.1 km
Turn left onto Keresforth Hill Road/B6099. Continue on B6099.
B60991.7 km
Turn left onto New Street.
New Street58 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on New Street.
New Street58 m
Turn right onto Keresforth Road/B6099. Continue on B6099.
B60991.7 km
Turn right onto A6133.
A6133309 m
Turn left onto Racecommon Road.
Racecommon Road949 m
Enter Townend Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A628/West Way.
Townend Roundabout134 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.
A61143 m
Take the exit.
A61150 m
Move left onto Kendray Street.
Kendray Street68 m
Turn right onto Schwäbisch Gmünd Way.
Schwäbisch Gmünd Way34 m
Keep left to stay on Schwäbisch Gmünd Way.
Schwäbisch Gmünd Way308 m
Turn left onto Eldon Street North.
Eldon Street North470 m
Turn right onto Market Hill.
Market Hill91 m
Turn left to stay on Market Hill.
Market Hill18 m
Move left onto Shambles Street.
Shambles Street35 m
Keep left to stay on Shambles Street.
Shambles Street344 m
Enter Townend Roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Summer Lane.
Townend Roundabout146 m
Exit the roundabout onto Summer Lane.
Summer Lane970 m
Turn left onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road429 m
Turn left onto Mary's Place.
Mary's Place46 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Mary's Place.
Mary's Place46 m
Turn left onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road1.0 km
Take the A628 exit on the right.
A628134 m
Keep right to stay on A628/Dodworth Road.
A628622 m
Enter Dodworth Interchange and take the 1st exit onto M1.
Dodworth Interchange13 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 1st exit onto A61/Dearne Valley Parkway.
Birdwell Interchange29 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Dearne Valley Parkway.
A61119 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
186 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sheffield Road/A6135.
Sheffield Road78 m
Enter Cross Keys Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Olympus Way/A6135.
Cross Keys Roundabout104 m
Exit the roundabout onto Olympus Way/A6135.
Olympus Way876 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Olympus Way/A6135.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Olympus Way/A6135.
Olympus Way93 m
Keep left to stay on Olympus Way/A6135.
Olympus Way111 m
Keep right to stay on Olympus Way/A6135.
Olympus Way115 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Sheffield Road/A6135.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sheffield Road/A6135.
Sheffield Road1.4 km
Turn left onto Harley Road/B6090.
Harley Road264 m
Keep left to stay on B6090.
B60901.1 km
Keep left to take Barrow Hill/B6090.
Barrow Hill100 m
Keep left to stay on Barrow Hill/B6090.
Barrow Hill513 m
Turn right onto Church Field Lane.
Church Field Lane2.1 km
Turn right onto Sheffield Road/A6135.
Sheffield Road302 m
Turn right onto Harley Road/B6090. Continue on B6090.
B60901.9 km
Turn right onto Church Field Lane.
Church Field Lane296 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Church Field Lane.
Church Field Lane296 m
Turn left onto Barrow Hill/B6090. Continue on B6090.
B6090797 m
Keep right to take Dike Hill/B6090.
Dike Hill599 m
Keep right to stay on B6090.
B6090549 m
Turn right onto Sheffield Road/A6135.
Sheffield Road174 m
Keep right to stay on Sheffield Road/A6135.
Sheffield Road1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Olympus Way/A6135.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Olympus Way/A6135.
Olympus Way314 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Olympus Way/A6135.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Olympus Way/A6135.
Olympus Way879 m
Enter Cross Keys Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Sheffield Road/A6135.
Cross Keys Roundabout15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sheffield Road/A6135.
Sheffield Road137 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Dearne Valley Parkway.
A61191 m
Enter Birdwell Interchange and take the 3rd exit.
Birdwell Interchange330 m
Exit the roundabout.
11 m
Take the M1 ramp on the right towards The SOUTH.
106 m
Take the M1 ramp towards The SOUTH.
108 m
Take the M1 ramp on the right towards The SOUTH.
M15.3 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 Road1.4 km
Turn right onto Gawber Road.
Gawber Road468 m
Turn right onto Victoria Crescent West.
Victoria Crescent West56 m
Move right to stay on Victoria Crescent West.
Victoria Crescent West125 m
Turn right onto Summer Lane.
Summer Lane425 m
Turn left onto Pogmoor Road.
Pogmoor Road989 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 Road241 m
Turn right onto West Road.
West Road57 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Barnsley · Route 5 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.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
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 Cross Keys Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 24.4 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, 50, 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.
Tom Treddlehoyle
Start near Tom Treddlehoyle.
Penny Pie Park
Continue to Penny Pie Park.
St Edward The Confessor
Continue to St Edward The Confessor.
Sheffield Road/West Way
Continue to Sheffield Road/West Way.
Holy Rood Catholic Church
Continue to Holy Rood Catholic Church.
Love Life UK Church
Continue to Love Life UK Church.
Sheffield Road/Brinckman Street
Continue to Sheffield Road/Brinckman Street.
Locke Park WMC
Continue to Locke Park WMC.
Hair & Beauty Lounge
Continue to Hair & Beauty Lounge.
Tarn End Tap
Continue to Tarn End Tap.
Barnsley Transport Interchange
Continue to Barnsley Transport Interchange.
Polish Social Club
Continue to Polish Social Club.
Cock
Continue to Cock.
Cross Keys Roundabout
Continue to Cross Keys Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Sheffield Road/Black Lane
Continue to Sheffield Road/Black Lane.
Main Street/Barrow Field Lane
Continue to Main Street/Barrow Field Lane.
Wentworth CofE Junior and Infant School
Continue to Wentworth CofE Junior and Infant School.
Olympus Way
Continue to Olympus Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Olympus Way / Parkside Road
Continue to Olympus Way / Parkside Road.
Summer Lane Primary School
Finish back near Summer Lane Primary School, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 26 turns · 3 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 23 turns · 3 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 21 turns · 3 sets of lights
20 turns
This route is 55.0 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.