Near Blyth test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 17 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 32.6 km practice loop near Blyth 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.
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 stations, churches, schools and pubs, 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 Blyth 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 107-step drive on real, named roads (about 33.2 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southeast on Freehold Street.
Freehold Street39 m
Turn right onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street62 m
Turn right onto Percy Street.
Percy Street94 m
Turn left onto Bridge Street/B1328.
Bridge Street239 m
Keep left to take Waterloo Road/B1328.
Waterloo Road504 m
Turn left onto Renwick Road/A193.
Renwick Road266 m
Move left onto Broadway Circle/A193.
Broadway Circle17 m
Enter the roundabout and take the exit onto Broadway Circle/A193.
463 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle/A193. Continue on A193.
A193681 m
Turn left onto Albion Way.
Albion Way739 m
Keep left to stay on Albion Way.
Albion Way25 m
Turn right onto Malvins Road.
Malvins Road131 m
Turn right onto Thorneyburn Way.
Thorneyburn Way67 m
Turn right to stay on Thorneyburn Way.
Thorneyburn Way19 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Thorneyburn Way.
Thorneyburn Way19 m
Turn left to stay on Thorneyburn Way.
Thorneyburn Way67 m
Turn left onto Malvins Road.
Malvins Road131 m
Turn right onto Dene View Drive.
Dene View Drive193 m
Turn left onto Brierley Road.
Brierley Road544 m
Turn right onto Tynedale Drive.
Tynedale Drive223 m
Turn left onto Swaledale Avenue.
Swaledale Avenue425 m
Move left onto Bishopdale Avenue.
Bishopdale Avenue292 m
Turn left onto Tynedale Drive.
Tynedale Drive428 m
Turn right onto Briardale Road.
Briardale Road654 m
Turn left onto Cowpen Road/A193.
Cowpen Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A193.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto A193.
A193131 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A1892.0 km
Take the exit.
518 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A192.
145 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192648 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A192.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192107 m
Keep left to stay on A192.
A1922.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A192.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A1921.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Astley Road/A192.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto Astley Road/A192.
Astley Road1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A192.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A1922.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
143 m
Exit the roundabout onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road250 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road143 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road108 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road166 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road174 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road103 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road126 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road150 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
47 m
Exit the roundabout onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road306 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road183 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road346 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road75 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B1523.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1523.
B1523632 m
Turn left onto Laverock Hall Road.
Laverock Hall Road233 m
Turn left onto Benridge Park.
Benridge Park32 m
Turn right to stay on Benridge Park.
Benridge Park42 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Benridge Park.
Benridge Park42 m
Turn left to stay on Benridge Park.
Benridge Park32 m
Turn right onto Laverock Hall Road.
Laverock Hall Road233 m
Turn left onto Newcastle Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B1523556 m
Turn right onto Plessey Road/B1523.
Plessey Road929 m
Turn right onto Fenwick Avenue.
Fenwick Avenue60 m
Turn left onto Barras Avenue.
Barras Avenue235 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B15231.6 km
Turn right onto Delaval Crescent.
Delaval Crescent530 m
Turn left onto Newcastle Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B1523127 m
Turn right onto Plessey Road/B1523.
Plessey Road1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Plessey Road/B1327.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Plessey Road/B1327.
Plessey Road400 m
Turn right onto Plessey Avenue.
Plessey Avenue143 m
Turn right onto Hunter Avenue.
Hunter Avenue213 m
Turn right onto Shotton Avenue.
Shotton Avenue73 m
Turn right onto Hedley Avenue.
Hedley Avenue194 m
Turn left onto Plessey Avenue.
Plessey Avenue74 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road/B1327.
Plessey Road400 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Broadway/A193.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway/A193.
Broadway324 m
Turn right onto Kingsway.
Kingsway287 m
Turn left onto Winchester Avenue.
Winchester Avenue64 m
Turn left onto Princess Louise Road.
Princess Louise Road78 m
Turn right onto Cypress Gardens.
Cypress Gardens132 m
Keep left to stay on Cypress Gardens.
Cypress Gardens20 m
Turn right onto Collingwood Terrace.
Collingwood Terrace71 m
Turn right onto Winchester Avenue.
Winchester Avenue148 m
Turn right onto Princess Louise Road.
Princess Louise Road73 m
Turn left onto Cypress Gardens.
Cypress Gardens80 m
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway83 m
Turn left onto Winchester Avenue.
Winchester Avenue64 m
Turn left onto Princess Louise Road.
Princess Louise Road78 m
Turn left onto Cypress Gardens.
Cypress Gardens80 m
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway83 m
Turn left onto Winchester Avenue.
Winchester Avenue64 m
Turn right onto Princess Louise Road.
Princess Louise Road264 m
Turn left onto Croft Road.
Croft Road175 m
Turn left onto Middleton Street.
Middleton Street243 m
Turn right onto Wolsley Road.
Wolsley Road61 m
Turn right onto Marine Terrace.
Marine Terrace101 m
Turn right onto Coomassie Road.
Coomassie Road62 m
Turn right onto Middleton Street.
Middleton Street101 m
Turn right onto Wolsley Road.
Wolsley Road175 m
Turn right onto Waterloo Road/B1328.
Waterloo Road486 m
Turn right onto Percy Street.
Percy Street51 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Blyth · Route 1 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.
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
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 1.7 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 (20, 30, 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.
Blyth Bus Station
Start near Blyth Bus Station.
Our Lady And St Wilfrids Church
Continue to Our Lady And St Wilfrids Church.
SureStart Centre Blyth Central Children's Centre
Continue to SureStart Centre Blyth Central Children's Centre.
Percy Arms
Continue to Percy Arms.
Cowpen Methodist Church
Continue to Cowpen Methodist Church.
King's Arms
Continue to King's Arms.
St Cuthberts Church
Continue to St Cuthberts Church.
Premier Meats
Continue to Premier Meats.
Keel Row
Continue to Keel Row.
Hasting
Continue to Hasting.
Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church
Continue to Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church.
Split Chimp Tavern
Continue to Split Chimp Tavern.
Congregation Of Yahweh
Continue to Congregation Of Yahweh.
Sea Horse
Continue to Sea Horse.
St Bede Church
Continue to St Bede Church.
Masons Arms
Continue to Masons Arms.
Beauty Gardens
Continue to Beauty Gardens.
Croftway Academy
Continue to Croftway Academy.
Blyth Community Church
Continue to Blyth Community Church.
Oliver's Bakery
Finish back near Oliver's Bakery, completing the loop.
11 roundabouts · 15 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 17 turns · 1 set of lights
10 roundabouts · 16 turns · 1 set of lights
9 roundabouts · 12 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 32.6 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Blyth test centre, not an official DVSA route.