Near Blyth test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts and 15 turns across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 49.5 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 pubs, churches, shops 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 166-step drive on real, named roads (about 49.9 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 Street27 m
Turn left.
98 m
Turn left onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street28 m
Turn left onto Percy Street.
Percy Street94 m
Turn right onto Bridge Street/B1328.
Bridge Street65 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Quay Road.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Quay Road.
Quay Road53 m
Turn right onto Sussex Street.
Sussex Street102 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road25 m
Turn right onto Ridley Street.
Ridley Street102 m
Turn right onto Tate Street.
Tate Street63 m
Turn right onto B1329.
B1329197 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Quay Road.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Quay Road.
Quay Road53 m
Turn right onto Sussex Street.
Sussex Street102 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road25 m
Turn right onto Ridley Street.
Ridley Street102 m
Turn right onto Tate Street.
Tate Street63 m
Turn left onto B1329.
B132921 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
Make a sharp right onto Stanley Street.
Stanley Street85 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street30 m
Turn left.
118 m
Make a sharp left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road46 m
Move left onto Stanley Street.
Stanley Street85 m
Turn left onto Wellington Street.
Wellington Street61 m
Turn left onto Beaconsfield Street.
Beaconsfield Street152 m
Move right onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road749 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 Crescent529 m
Turn left onto Newcastle Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B1523127 m
Turn right onto Plessey Road/B1523.
Plessey Road930 m
Turn right onto Fenwick Avenue.
Fenwick Avenue60 m
Turn left onto Barras Avenue.
Barras Avenue235 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road/B1523.
Plessey Road1.6 km
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.
South Newsham Road623 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 Road202 m
Keep left to stay on Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
Laverock Hall Road102 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 3rd exit onto B1326.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto B1326.
B13261.1 km
Turn left onto Marjorie Street.
Marjorie Street37 m
Turn left to stay on Marjorie Street.
Marjorie Street95 m
Turn left to stay on Marjorie Street.
Marjorie Street36 m
Turn right onto Lamb Street/B1326. Continue on B1326.
B13261.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A192.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192977 m
Turn right onto Prospect Avenue.
Prospect Avenue61 m
Turn right onto Blyth Street.
Blyth Street131 m
Turn left onto Western Avenue.
Western Avenue335 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 Road274 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.
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 left to stay on Trevelyan Avenue.
Trevelyan Avenue99 m
Turn right onto Kendal Avenue.
Kendal Avenue61 m
Turn left onto Newsham Road.
Newsham Road498 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Broadway Circle/A193.
145 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle/A193.
Broadway Circle487 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Rotary Way/A193.
21 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 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 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. Continue on A190.
A190357 m
Keep straight to take The Avenue/A190.
The Avenue2.9 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 Avenue85 m
Turn left onto Glanton Avenue.
Glanton Avenue73 m
Turn right onto Coronation Road.
Coronation Road69 m
Turn left onto Prospect Avenue.
Prospect Avenue52 m
Turn right onto Bolam Way.
Bolam Way93 m
Turn left to stay on Bolam Way.
Bolam Way71 m
Turn left onto Prospect Avenue.
Prospect Avenue267 m
Turn left to stay on Prospect Avenue.
Prospect Avenue90 m
Turn right onto Blyth Street.
Blyth Street186 m
Turn right onto Avenue Road/A190.
Avenue Road189 m
Turn right onto Delaval Avenue.
Delaval Avenue12 m
Turn left onto Avenue Road.
Avenue Road259 m
Make a left U-turn at Prospect Avenue onto Avenue Road/A190.
Avenue Road528 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A190.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A190.
A1903.2 km
Turn left onto Fountain Head Bank.
Fountain Head Bank21 m
Move left to stay on Fountain Head Bank.
Fountain Head Bank144 m
Make a left U-turn at St. Ronan's Drive onto Fountain Head Bank/A190.
Fountain Head Bank251 m
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 Road345 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.
Links Road2.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B1329.
28 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 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 Street65 m
Turn left onto Percy Street.
Percy Street94 m
Turn right onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street119 m
Turn left onto Beaconsfield Street.
Beaconsfield Street246 m
Make a sharp left onto Plessey Road.
Plessey Road95 m
Move left onto Stanley Street.
Stanley Street179 m
Turn left onto Carlton Street.
Carlton Street89 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 7 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
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.
Royal Engineers Association Blyth Branch
Start near Royal Engineers Association Blyth Branch.
St. Cuthbert's Parish Church
Continue to St. Cuthbert's Parish Church.
Best-one
Continue to Best-one.
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.
Seaton Delaval First School
Continue to Seaton Delaval First School.
SureStart Children's Centre
Continue to SureStart Children's Centre.
Newsham Primary School
Continue to Newsham Primary School.
Gilbert Ward Academy
Continue to Gilbert Ward Academy.
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.
Delaval News
Continue to Delaval News.
Astley Arms
Continue to Astley Arms.
Wensleydale Convenience Store
Continue to Wensleydale Convenience Store.
Juliettas
Continue to Juliettas.
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 49.5 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.