Near Blyth test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts and 15 turns across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 63.0 km practice loop near Blyth test centre, taking roughly 35 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 Links Road. 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 schools, 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 182-step drive on real, named roads (about 63.2 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. Continue on Bridge Street.
Bridge Street143 m
Turn left onto Union Street/B1327.
Union Street226 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street150 m
Turn right onto Stanley Street.
Stanley Street85 m
Make a sharp left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road128 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.
B132921 m
Turn right onto Tate Street.
Tate Street63 m
Turn left onto Ridley Street.
Ridley Street102 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road25 m
Turn right onto Sussex Street.
Sussex Street102 m
Turn left onto Quay Road.
Quay Road53 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto B1329.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1329.
B1329221 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ridley Avenue/B1329.
30 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ridley Avenue/B1329.
Ridley Avenue41 m
Keep right to stay on Ridley Avenue/B1329.
Ridley Avenue304 m
Turn left onto Park View.
Park View187 m
Move right onto East Park View.
East Park View23 m
Keep straight to stay on East Park View.
East Park View396 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Wellington Street East.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wellington Street East.
Wellington Street East101 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto B1329.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1329.
B1329219 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 4th exit onto B1329.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1329.
B1329303 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridge Street/B1328.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridge Street/B1328.
Bridge Street809 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 7th exit.
424 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle.
Broadway Circle1.6 km
Keep left to take Wharton Street.
Wharton Street21 m
Turn left onto Winship Street.
Winship Street218 m
Move right onto Plessey Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B1523591 m
Turn right 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 right onto South Newsham Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B1523624 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road424 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 Road304 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road107 m
Keep right to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road167 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road103 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road174 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 Road108 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road143 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road250 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A192.
9 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.
Astley Road706 m
Turn right to stay on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue64 m
Turn left to stay on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue35 m
Turn left to stay on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue418 m
Turn left onto Astley Road/A192. Continue on A192.
A192847 m
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 Road229 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.
B15231.4 km
Move right onto Wharton Street.
Wharton Street889 m
Turn left onto Mitford Avenue.
Mitford Avenue61 m
Turn right onto Trevelyan Avenue.
Trevelyan Avenue30 m
Turn left to stay on Trevelyan Avenue.
Trevelyan Avenue129 m
Turn right to stay on Trevelyan Avenue.
Trevelyan Avenue133 m
Turn left onto Mitford Avenue.
Mitford Avenue61 m
Turn right onto Newsham Road.
Newsham Road867 m
Keep left to take Wharton Street.
Wharton Street21 m
Turn left onto Winship Street.
Winship Street235 m
Turn right onto Plessey Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B152386 m
Turn right onto Delaval Street.
Delaval Street85 m
Turn left onto Delaval Gardens.
Delaval Gardens108 m
Turn left onto Middle Street.
Middle Street70 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road129 m
Turn left onto Newcastle Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B152376 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 Way527 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way74 m
Keep straight to stay on Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way570 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Links Road/A193.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Links Road/A193.
Links Road1.9 km
Keep right to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road329 m
Keep right to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road109 m
Keep right to stay on A193.
A193581 m
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.
A190357 m
Keep straight to take The Avenue/A190.
The Avenue2.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A190.
79 m
Exit the roundabout onto A190.
A1903.2 km
Enter Links Road and take the 1st exit onto A193.
Links Road13 m
Exit the roundabout onto A193.
A193696 m
Keep left to take Links Road/A193.
Links Road105 m
Keep left to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road224 m
Keep left to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road121 m
Keep right to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road1.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Links Road/B1329.
119 m
Exit the roundabout onto Links Road/B1329. Continue on B1329.
B13291.5 km
Turn left onto Park Road.
Park Road273 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road749 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
5 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 Way149 m
Keep straight to stay on Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way495 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Links Road/A193.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto Links Road/A193.
Links Road1.9 km
Keep right to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road224 m
Keep right to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road105 m
Keep right to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road109 m
Keep right to stay on A193.
A193581 m
Enter Links Road and take the 4th exit onto Fountain Head Bank/A190.
Links Road125 m
Exit the roundabout onto Fountain Head Bank/A190.
Fountain Head Bank357 m
Keep straight to stay on A190.
A1902.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A192.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192314 m
Turn right onto Park Road.
Park Road205 m
Turn right onto Avenue Road/A190.
Avenue Road59 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Astley Road/A192.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Astley Road/A192.
Astley Road309 m
Turn left onto Western Avenue.
Western Avenue62 m
Turn left onto Blyth Street.
Blyth Street131 m
Turn left onto Prospect Avenue.
Prospect Avenue61 m
Turn right onto Astley Road/A192.
Astley Road180 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A190.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto A190.
A1903.0 km
Turn left onto St. Ronan's Drive.
St. Ronan's Drive618 m
Turn left onto Links Road/A193.
Links Road231 m
Keep left to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road105 m
Keep left to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road224 m
Keep left to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road121 m
Keep right to stay on Links Road/A193.
Links Road1.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
69 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way638 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way430 m
Keep right to stay on Rotary Way/A193.
Rotary Way96 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
30 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 right onto Plessey Road/B1327. Continue on Plessey Road.
Plessey Road349 m
Move left onto Beaconsfield Street.
Beaconsfield Street247 m
Turn left onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street29 m
Turn left.
94 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street28 m
Turn left onto Beaconsfield Street.
Beaconsfield Street94 m
Turn right onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street119 m
Turn left onto Percy Street.
Percy Street43 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Blyth · Route 4 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, 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.
St. Cuthbert's Parish Church
Continue to St. Cuthbert's Parish Church.
Headway Arts
Continue to Headway Arts.
Our Lady And St Wilfrids Church
Continue to Our Lady And St Wilfrids Church.
Congregation Of Yahweh
Continue to Congregation Of Yahweh.
St Bede Church
Continue to St Bede Church.
Keel Row
Continue to Keel Row.
Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church
Continue to Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church.
SureStart Children's Centre
Continue to SureStart Children's Centre.
Lakes & Dales Co-operative
Continue to Lakes & Dales Co-operative.
Newsham Victory Club
Continue to Newsham Victory Club.
Newsham Fruit Stores
Continue to Newsham Fruit Stores.
Sea Horse
Continue to Sea Horse.
Links Road
Continue to Links Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Astley Arms
Continue to Astley Arms.
One Stop
Continue to One Stop.
Masons Arms
Continue to Masons Arms.
Steves Barber Shop
Continue to Steves Barber Shop.
Crofton Park
Continue to Crofton Park.
Central Methodist Church Blyth
Finish back near Central Methodist Church Blyth, 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 63.0 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Blyth test centre, not an official DVSA route.