Near Blyth test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts and 19 turns across 30 navigation steps.
This is an independent 45.0 km practice loop near Blyth 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 Rotary Way and 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 churches, named junctions, pubs 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 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 154-step drive on real, named roads (about 46.1 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 right onto Bridge Street/B1328.
Bridge Street65 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Bridge Street/B1328.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridge Street/B1328.
Bridge Street65 m
Turn left onto Percy Street.
Percy Street94 m
Turn right onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street148 m
Turn left.
94 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street28 m
Turn left onto Beaconsfield Street.
Beaconsfield Street94 m
Turn left onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street29 m
Turn left.
94 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street28 m
Turn right onto Beaconsfield Street.
Beaconsfield Street152 m
Move right onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road348 m
Turn left 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 1st exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
5 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 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 Links Road/A193.
Links Road122 m
Turn right onto St. Ronan's Drive.
St. Ronan's Drive91 m
Turn left onto Astley Gardens.
Astley Gardens287 m
Move right to stay on Astley Gardens.
Astley Gardens95 m
Turn right onto Derwent Road.
Derwent Road82 m
Turn right onto St. Ronan's Drive.
St. Ronan's Drive549 m
Turn right onto Links Road/A193. Continue on A193.
A193459 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 Bank90 m
Turn right to stay on Fountain Head Bank.
Fountain Head Bank177 m
Turn right onto Fountain Head Bank/A190. Continue on A190.
A190114 m
Keep straight to stay on A190.
A1902.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Astley Road/A192.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Astley Road/A192.
Astley Road371 m
Turn left onto Blyth Street.
Blyth Street522 m
Turn left onto Sinclair Gardens.
Sinclair Gardens119 m
Turn left onto Dene Street/A192. Continue on A192.
A192194 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A190.
64 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 3rd exit onto Avenue Road/A190.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Avenue Road/A190.
Avenue Road248 m
Turn right onto Delaval Avenue.
Delaval Avenue12 m
Turn left onto Avenue Road.
Avenue Road259 m
Turn right onto Prospect Avenue.
Prospect Avenue324 m
Turn left to stay on Prospect Avenue.
Prospect Avenue159 m
Turn left onto Mitford Avenue.
Mitford Avenue107 m
Turn left onto Western Avenue.
Western Avenue207 m
Keep right to stay on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue11 m
Turn right to stay on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue100 m
Turn left to stay on Western Avenue.
Western Avenue418 m
Turn right onto Astley Road/A192.
Astley Road310 m
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.
B1523793 m
Move right onto Wharton Street.
Wharton Street1.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Broadway Circle.
92 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle.
Broadway Circle81 m
Turn left onto Cypress Crescent.
Cypress Crescent168 m
Turn left onto Cypress Drive.
Cypress Drive92 m
Turn left onto Renwick Road/A193.
Renwick Road61 m
Move left onto Broadway Circle/A193.
Broadway Circle17 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 6th exit onto Broadway Circle/A193.
216 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle/A193. Continue on A193.
A193287 m
Turn right onto Waterloo Road/B1328.
Waterloo Road809 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto B1329.
4 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 2nd exit onto B1329.
12 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.
B132921 m
Turn right onto Tate Street.
Tate Street63 m
Turn left onto Ridley Street.
Ridley Street127 m
Turn right onto Sussex Street.
Sussex Street102 m
Turn left onto Quay Road.
Quay Road53 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bridge Street/B1328.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridge Street/B1328.
Bridge Street65 m
Turn left onto Percy Street.
Percy Street94 m
Turn right onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street89 m
Turn left.
94 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street30 m
Turn left onto Stanley Street.
Stanley Street94 m
Turn right onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street59 m
Turn left onto Percy Street.
Percy Street43 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Blyth · Route 5 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.
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.
Central Methodist Church Blyth
Start near Central Methodist Church Blyth.
Rotary Way
Continue to Rotary Way, taking the junction with good observation.
Ropes & Logs
Continue to Ropes & Logs.
Links Road
Continue to Links Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Split Chimp Tavern
Continue to Split Chimp Tavern.
Gail’s Cod & Co
Continue to Gail’s Cod & Co.
Astley Arms
Continue to Astley Arms.
Shorelocks
Continue to Shorelocks.
Curiosity Cabinet
Continue to Curiosity Cabinet.
Seaton Delaval First School
Continue to Seaton Delaval First School.
SureStart Children's Centre
Continue to SureStart Children's Centre.
Hasting
Continue to Hasting.
Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church
Continue to Seaton Delaval Spiritualist Church.
Congregation Of Yahweh
Continue to Congregation Of Yahweh.
St Bede Church
Continue to St Bede Church.
Newsham Primary School
Continue to Newsham Primary School.
Blyth Bus Station
Continue to Blyth Bus Station.
Our Lady And St Wilfrids Church
Continue to Our Lady And St Wilfrids Church.
Blyth Marine Station
Continue to Blyth Marine Station.
Oddfellows Arms
Finish back near Oddfellows Arms, 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 45.0 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Blyth test centre, not an official DVSA route.