Near Barnstaple test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 16 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 29.3 km practice route near Barnstaple 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 Lake Roundabout and TA 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, national-speed roads, 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, pubs, 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 Barnstaple 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 143-step drive on real, named roads (about 29.2 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northeast on Benning Court.
Benning Court23 m
Turn right onto Riverside Road.
Riverside Road324 m
Turn left onto Pilland Way.
Pilland Way293 m
Move right to stay on Pilland Way.
Pilland Way24 m
Move right onto Braunton Road/A361.
Braunton Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Pilton Causeway/B3149.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pilton Causeway/B3149.
Pilton Causeway51 m
Enter Mermaid Cross and take the 2nd exit onto A39.
Mermaid Cross34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A39.
A39488 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Alexandra Road/A39.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road154 m
Keep right to stay on Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road104 m
Keep right to stay on Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road258 m
Enter TA Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A39.
TA Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A39.
A39423 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Victoria Road.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road41 m
Keep left to stay on Victoria Road.
Victoria Road51 m
Turn left onto Portmarsh Lane.
Portmarsh Lane138 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street104 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Victoria Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road164 m
Turn right.
15 m
Keep right at the fork.
97 m
Turn left onto Barbican Close.
Barbican Close8 m
Turn right to stay on Barbican Close.
Barbican Close115 m
Turn left onto Barbican Road.
Barbican Road68 m
Move right onto Summerland Street.
Summerland Street164 m
Move left onto A3125.
A312523 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Queen Street.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Queen Street.
Queen Street18 m
Turn right onto Buller Road.
Buller Road79 m
Turn right onto Bedford Street.
Bedford Street40 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Bedford Street.
Bedford Street40 m
Turn left onto Buller Road.
Buller Road78 m
Turn left onto Queen Street.
Queen Street20 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A3125.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A3125.
A312590 m
Enter TA Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alexandra Road/A39.
TA Roundabout2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road524 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A39.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A39.
A39489 m
Enter Mermaid Cross and take the 2nd exit onto Pilton Causeway/A39.
Mermaid Cross36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pilton Causeway/A39. Continue on A39.
A39240 m
Turn left onto Pilton Quay.
Pilton Quay38 m
Turn right onto Pilton Street.
Pilton Street308 m
Turn left onto Bull Hill.
Bull Hill73 m
Move right to stay on Bull Hill.
Bull Hill45 m
Turn left onto Under Minnow Road.
Under Minnow Road548 m
Turn left onto Meadow Road.
Meadow Road55 m
Keep straight to stay on Meadow Road.
Meadow Road
Keep straight to stay on Meadow Road.
Meadow Road56 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Meadow Road.
Meadow Road112 m
Turn right onto Bradiford.
Bradiford187 m
Turn right onto Chaddiford Lane.
Chaddiford Lane640 m
Turn left onto Braunton Road/A361.
Braunton Road317 m
Turn right onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass203 m
Keep right to stay on Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass855 m
Keep right to stay on Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass194 m
Enter Sticklepath Junction and take the 3rd exit onto A3125.
Sticklepath Junction114 m
Exit the roundabout onto A3125.
A312553 m
Keep right to stay on A3125.
A3125169 m
Turn left onto Sticklepath Hill.
Sticklepath Hill280 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Sticklepath Hill.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sticklepath Hill.
Sticklepath Hill280 m
Turn right onto A3125.
A3125223 m
Enter Sticklepath Junction and take the 3rd exit onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Sticklepath Junction111 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass1.2 km
Keep left to stay on Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass230 m
Enter Lake Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Lake Roundabout145 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass625 m
Keep right to stay on Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass109 m
Keep right to stay on Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass117 m
Keep right to stay on Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass102 m
Keep left to stay on Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass489 m
Enter Sticklepath Junction and take the 2nd exit onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Sticklepath Junction52 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass1.2 km
Turn left onto Braunton Road/A361.
Braunton Road1.1 km
Make a right U-turn to stay on Braunton Road/A361.
Braunton Road806 m
Keep left to take Chaddiford Lane.
Chaddiford Lane673 m
Turn left onto Bradiford.
Bradiford157 m
Turn right onto Windsor Road.
Windsor Road165 m
Keep straight to stay on Windsor Road.
Windsor Road100 m
Move right onto Bellaire Drive.
Bellaire Drive170 m
Turn right onto Bellaire.
Bellaire83 m
Turn right onto Bradiford.
Bradiford204 m
Turn right onto Windsor Road.
Windsor Road164 m
Keep straight to stay on Windsor Road.
Windsor Road100 m
Move right onto Bellaire Drive.
Bellaire Drive170 m
Turn left onto Bellaire.
Bellaire144 m
Move left onto Northfield Lane.
Northfield Lane35 m
Turn right onto Northfield Park.
Northfield Park97 m
Turn right to stay on Northfield Park.
Northfield Park212 m
Turn right onto Beech Grove.
Beech Grove142 m
Turn left onto Littabourne.
Littabourne633 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto North Road/A39.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Road/A39.
North Road1.4 km
Enter Mermaid Cross and take the 1st exit onto A39.
Mermaid Cross3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A39.
A39488 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Alexandra Road/A39.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road174 m
Keep right to stay on Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road115 m
Keep right to stay on Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road228 m
Enter TA Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A39.
TA Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A39.
A39424 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A39.
51 m
Exit the roundabout onto A39.
A39415 m
Enter TA Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Alexandra Road/A39.
TA Roundabout30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road524 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Alexandra Road/A39.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road174 m
Keep right to stay on Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road115 m
Keep right to stay on Alexandra Road/A39.
Alexandra Road228 m
Enter TA Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A3125.
TA Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A3125.
A312537 m
Move left.
28 m
Move left onto Summerland Street.
Summerland Street129 m
Move left onto Barbican Road.
Barbican Road68 m
Turn right onto Barbican Close.
Barbican Close115 m
Turn left to stay on Barbican Close.
Barbican Close8 m
Turn right.
28 m
Keep left at the fork.
84 m
Turn left onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road160 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Inner Relief Road/A39.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Inner Relief Road/A39. Continue on A39.
A39402 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Eastern Avenue/A39.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eastern Avenue/A39.
Eastern Avenue672 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Eastern Avenue/A39.
62 m
Exit the roundabout onto Eastern Avenue/A39.
Eastern Avenue671 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Hollowtree Road/B3138.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hollowtree Road/B3138.
Hollowtree Road298 m
Keep left to stay on B3138.
B3138337 m
Turn right onto Park Lane.
Park Lane137 m
Keep right to stay on Park Lane.
Park Lane168 m
Turn right onto Allen Bank.
Allen Bank55 m
Turn left onto Rock Avenue.
Rock Avenue111 m
Turn right onto Newport Road.
Newport Road136 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street105 m
Keep right to stay on Victoria Street.
Victoria Street186 m
Turn left to stay on Victoria Street.
Victoria Street157 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Victoria Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road36 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Barnstaple · Route 13 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 Lake Roundabout, TA Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (30, 40, 50, 60 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.
Bensons for Beds
Start near Bensons for Beds.
Marshall Volkswagon
Continue to Marshall Volkswagon.
Flukey's Bar
Continue to Flukey's Bar.
Rolle Quay Inn
Continue to Rolle Quay Inn.
Co-op Barnstaple Funeralcare
Continue to Co-op Barnstaple Funeralcare.
Salvation Army
Continue to Salvation Army.
Barnstaple Bus Station
Continue to Barnstaple Bus Station.
Home Pine
Continue to Home Pine.
Barum Brewery
Continue to Barum Brewery.
St Mary the Virgin
Continue to St Mary the Virgin.
Windsor Arms
Continue to Windsor Arms.
Lake Roundabout
Continue to Lake Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Carpet Mill
Continue to Carpet Mill.
Kings Carpets
Continue to Kings Carpets.
Barnstaple Fire Station
Continue to Barnstaple Fire Station.
Gaydon Street Motors
Continue to Gaydon Street Motors.
TA Roundabout
Continue to TA Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Argos
Continue to Argos.
Grosvenor Church
Continue to Grosvenor Church.
St John The Baptist
Finish back near St John The Baptist, completing the loop.
7 roundabouts · 19 turns · 2 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 13 turns
12 roundabouts · 13 turns · 7 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 11 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 29.3 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Barnstaple test centre, not an official DVSA route.