Near Blyth test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 10 roundabouts, 21 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 34 navigation steps.
This is an independent 70.3 km practice loop near Blyth 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 Rotary 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, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, 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 stations, churches, pubs and named junctions, 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 143-step drive on real, named roads (about 70.3 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. Continue on Bridge Street.
Bridge Street143 m
Turn left onto Union Street/B1327.
Union Street226 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street89 m
Turn right onto Beaconsfield Street.
Beaconsfield Street60 m
Turn right onto Coburg Street.
Coburg Street97 m
Turn right onto Union Street/B1327.
Union Street60 m
Turn left onto Aldborough Street.
Aldborough Street328 m
Turn left onto Winchester Avenue.
Winchester Avenue148 m
Turn right onto Princess Louise Road.
Princess Louise Road89 m
Turn left onto Jubilee Road.
Jubilee Road135 m
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway240 m
Turn right onto William Street.
William Street188 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road/B1327.
Plessey Road41 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 2nd exit onto Plessey Road/B1523.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Plessey Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B15231.9 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 3rd exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way528 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way645 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Links Road/A193.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Links Road/A193. Continue on A193.
A1932.9 km
Enter Links Road and take the 4th exit onto Fountain Head Bank/A190.
Links Road125 m
Exit the roundabout onto Fountain Head Bank/A190. Continue on A190.
A1903.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 6th exit onto A192.
98 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A1923.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Earsdon Road/A192.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Earsdon Road/A192.
Earsdon Road800 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Monkseaton Drive/A1148.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Monkseaton Drive/A1148.
Monkseaton Drive419 m
Turn left onto Red House Drive.
Red House Drive934 m
Turn right onto Haddington Road.
Haddington Road469 m
Turn right onto Hertford Close.
Hertford Close218 m
Turn left to stay on Hertford Close.
Hertford Close10 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Hertford Close.
Hertford Close10 m
Turn right to stay on Hertford Close.
Hertford Close218 m
Turn left onto Haddington Road.
Haddington Road469 m
Turn left onto Red House Drive.
Red House Drive935 m
Turn right onto Monkseaton Drive/A1148.
Monkseaton Drive418 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Earsdon Road/A192.
79 m
Exit the roundabout onto Earsdon Road/A192.
Earsdon Road793 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A192.
82 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A1923.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Astley Road/A192.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Astley Road/A192. Continue on A192.
A1921.2 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 2nd exit onto A192.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192652 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A192.
142 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192823 m
Turn right.
186 m
Turn right onto Ormston Street.
Ormston Street158 m
Turn left onto Astley Street.
Astley Street27 m
Turn left onto Stephen Street.
Stephen Street158 m
Turn right onto Ormston Street.
Ormston Street26 m
Turn left.
174 m
Turn left onto A192.
A192827 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A192.
413 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.
A1922.8 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. Continue on A192.
A1921.2 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 2nd exit onto A192.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192652 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Horton Road/B1505.
335 m
Exit the roundabout onto Horton Road/B1505.
Horton Road2.0 km
Turn right onto Bebside Road/A193. Continue on A193.
A1931.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A193.
94 m
Exit the roundabout onto A193.
A193131 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cowpen Road/A193.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cowpen Road/A193.
Cowpen Road2.2 km
Turn left onto Hodgsons Road/B1329. Continue on B1329.
B1329921 m
Turn left onto Maddison Street/B1329.
Maddison Street148 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B1329.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1329.
B1329303 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B1329.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1329.
B1329221 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Wellington Street.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street116 m
Move left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road128 m
Move left onto Stanley Street South.
Stanley Street South93 m
Turn left onto Horton Street.
Horton Street59 m
Turn left onto Percy Street South.
Percy Street South148 m
Turn right onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road53 m
Move right onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street116 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto B1329.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1329.
B1329218 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B1329.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1329.
B1329304 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Maddison Street/B1329.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maddison Street/B1329.
Maddison Street148 m
Turn right onto Regent Street/B1329. Continue on B1329.
B1329921 m
Turn right onto Cowpen Road/A193.
Cowpen Road1.2 km
Turn right to stay on Cowpen Road.
Cowpen Road76 m
Turn left to stay on Cowpen Road.
Cowpen Road10 m
Turn left onto Cowpen Road/A193. Continue on A193.
A1932.3 km
Move left onto Broadway Circle/A193.
Broadway Circle17 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Broadway Circle/A193.
107 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle/A193. Continue on A193.
A193488 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Plessey Road/B1523.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Plessey Road/B1523.
Plessey Road1.4 km
Turn left onto Links View.
Links View32 m
Turn right to stay on Links View.
Links View267 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Links View.
Links View267 m
Turn left to stay on Links View.
Links View32 m
Turn right onto Plessey Road/B1523.
Plessey Road1.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Broadway/A193.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway/A193. Continue on A193.
A193488 m
Enter Broadway Circle and take the 2nd exit onto Broadway Circle/A193.
Broadway Circle78 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle/A193. Continue on A193.
A1932.2 km
Turn right onto Cowpen Road.
Cowpen Road76 m
Turn left to stay on Cowpen Road.
Cowpen Road10 m
Turn left onto Cowpen Road/A193. Continue on A193.
A1932.0 km
Turn left onto Waterloo Road/B1328.
Waterloo Road336 m
Turn left onto Wanley Street.
Wanley Street27 m
Turn left.
79 m
Turn left onto Thoroton Street.
Thoroton Street141 m
Turn left onto Marine Terrace.
Marine Terrace243 m
Turn right onto Croft Road.
Croft Road60 m
Turn right onto Middleton Street.
Middleton Street142 m
Turn right onto Coomassie Road.
Coomassie Road62 m
Turn right onto Marine Terrace.
Marine Terrace206 m
Turn left onto Union Street/B1327.
Union Street118 m
Turn right onto Bridge Street.
Bridge Street143 m
Turn right onto Percy Street.
Percy Street51 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Blyth · Route 2 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
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40, 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.
Congregation Of Yahweh
Continue to Congregation Of Yahweh.
Newsham
Continue to Newsham.
Rotary Way
Continue to Rotary Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Astley Arms
Continue to Astley Arms.
Victoria and Albert
Continue to Victoria and Albert.
St. Mary's Church Holywell
Continue to St. Mary's Church Holywell.
Red Lion
Continue to Red Lion.
Hasting
Continue to Hasting.
Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church
Continue to Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church.
Wish U Well
Continue to Wish U Well.
Saint Mary The Virgin
Continue to Saint Mary The Virgin.
Bebside Inn
Continue to Bebside Inn.
St Cuthberts Church
Continue to St Cuthberts Church.
Reef Hotel
Continue to Reef Hotel.
St. Cuthbert's Parish Church
Continue to St. Cuthbert's Parish Church.
South Quay Park
Continue to South Quay Park.
SureStart Centre Blyth Central Children's Centre
Continue to SureStart Centre Blyth Central Children's Centre.
Broadway Bakery
Continue to Broadway Bakery.
Headway Arts
Finish back near Headway Arts, 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 70.3 km and takes about 50 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Blyth test centre, not an official DVSA route.