Near Barnstaple test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 18 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 41.3 km practice route near Barnstaple test centre, taking roughly 40 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 Mermaid Cross, TA Roundabout and Lake 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 pubs, named junctions, churches and shops, 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 122-step drive on real, named roads (about 41.3 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 Road518 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 Road262 m
Turn left onto Newport Road.
Newport Road441 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street196 m
Turn left.
47 m
Turn left onto Portland Street.
Portland Street158 m
Turn right onto Newport Road.
Newport Road84 m
Turn left onto Rock Avenue.
Rock Avenue111 m
Turn right onto Allen Bank.
Allen Bank55 m
Turn left onto Park Lane.
Park Lane306 m
Turn left onto South Street/B3138.
South Street184 m
Turn right onto Landkey Road.
Landkey Road148 m
Turn right onto Clinton Road.
Clinton Road382 m
Turn left onto Bishop's Tawton Road/B3138.
Bishop's Tawton Road408 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A361.
74 m
Exit the roundabout onto A361.
A361728 m
Enter Lake Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A361.
Lake Roundabout146 m
Exit the roundabout onto A361.
A361736 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bishop's Tawton Road/B3138.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bishop's Tawton Road/B3138.
Bishop's Tawton Road188 m
Turn right onto Chichester Road.
Chichester Road21 m
Turn right to stay on Chichester Road.
Chichester Road105 m
Move left onto Style Close.
Style Close333 m
Turn left onto Rumsam Road.
Rumsam Road345 m
Turn left onto Fortescue Road.
Fortescue Road114 m
Turn left onto Bishop's Tawton Road/B3138.
Bishop's Tawton Road219 m
Turn left onto Chichester Road.
Chichester Road21 m
Turn right to stay on Chichester Road.
Chichester Road105 m
Move left onto Style Close.
Style Close40 m
Turn left onto Chichester Close.
Chichester Close101 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Chichester Close.
Chichester Close101 m
Turn right onto Style Close.
Style Close40 m
Move right onto Chichester Road.
Chichester Road105 m
Turn left to stay on Chichester Road.
Chichester Road21 m
Turn left onto Bishop's Tawton Road/B3138.
Bishop's Tawton Road188 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A377/Bishop's Tawton Road.
51 m
Exit the roundabout onto A377/Bishop's Tawton Road.
A377767 m
Turn left.
46 m
Turn right onto A377/Bishop's Tawton Road.
A377736 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A361.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto A361.
A361728 m
Enter Lake Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Lake Roundabout103 m
Exit the roundabout onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass1.4 km
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 Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Barnstaple Western Bypass/A361.
Barnstaple Western Bypass1.3 km
Enter Sticklepath Junction and take the 3rd exit onto A3125.
Sticklepath Junction114 m
Exit the roundabout onto A3125.
A31251.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bickington Road/B3233.
44 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bickington Road/B3233.
Bickington Road868 m
Turn left onto Tews Lane.
Tews Lane232 m
Turn left onto Lyddicleave.
Lyddicleave605 m
Turn right onto Bickington Road/B3233.
Bickington Road441 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bickington Road/A3125.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bickington Road/A3125. Continue on A3125.
A31251.2 km
Turn right onto Sticklepath Hill.
Sticklepath Hill280 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd 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 Bypass1.4 km
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 Bypass1.4 km
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.
Braunton Road1.7 km
Turn left onto Fair View.
Fair View471 m
Turn right onto A39.
A39240 m
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 2nd exit onto Derby Road.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derby Road.
Derby Road642 m
Keep left to stay on Derby Road.
Derby Road480 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Derby Road.
Derby Road885 m
Turn left onto Bicton Street.
Bicton Street353 m
Turn left onto Bear Street.
Bear Street812 m
Turn right onto Walton Way.
Walton Way407 m
Move right onto Sowden Lane.
Sowden Lane133 m
Turn right to stay on Sowden Lane.
Sowden Lane72 m
Turn left to stay on Sowden Lane.
Sowden Lane246 m
Turn left onto Ashleigh Road.
Ashleigh Road84 m
Turn left to stay on Ashleigh Road.
Ashleigh Road251 m
Turn left to stay on Ashleigh Road.
Ashleigh Road64 m
Turn right to stay on Ashleigh Road.
Ashleigh Road11 m
Move left onto A39.
A3994 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Victoria Road.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road93 m
Turn left onto Portmarsh Lane.
Portmarsh Lane138 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street104 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Inner Relief Road/A39.
44 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. Continue on B3138.
B3138637 m
Turn right onto Park Lane.
Park Lane305 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 Street291 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 15 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.
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 TA Roundabout, Lake Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 4.3 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, 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.
Bull & Bear
Start near Bull & Bear.
Mermaid Cross
Continue to Mermaid Cross, taking the junction with good observation.
Rolle Quay Inn
Continue to Rolle Quay Inn.
Flukey's Bar
Continue to Flukey's Bar.
Salvation Army
Continue to Salvation Army.
TA Roundabout
Continue to TA Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
St John The Baptist
Continue to St John The Baptist.
Lake Roundabout
Continue to Lake Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Burger King
Continue to Burger King.
Carpet Mill
Continue to Carpet Mill.
Kings Carpets
Continue to Kings Carpets.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
United Reform Church
Continue to United Reform Church.
Barum Brewery
Continue to Barum Brewery.
Types Tyres
Continue to Types Tyres.
Kingdom Hall
Continue to Kingdom Hall.
Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple
Continue to Our Lady's Catholic Primary School, Barnstaple.
Grosvenor Church
Continue to Grosvenor Church.
Johnstone's Decorating Centre
Continue to Johnstone's Decorating Centre.
Lidl
Finish back near Lidl, 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 41.3 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Barnstaple test centre, not an official DVSA route.