Near Blyth test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 14 turns and 1 signalled junction across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 72.4 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 North Seaton Roundabout and Woodhorn Roundabout. 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, 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, pubs and parks, 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 157-step drive on real, named roads (about 74.5 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 Way126 m
Keep right to take Dene View Drive.
Dene View Drive38 m
Turn right onto Edendale Avenue.
Edendale Avenue287 m
Turn left onto The Orchards.
The Orchards312 m
Turn right onto Dene View Drive.
Dene View Drive118 m
Turn left onto Briardale Road.
Briardale Road130 m
Turn right onto Cowpen Hall Road.
Cowpen Hall Road45 m
Turn left onto Nordale Way.
Nordale Way98 m
Turn left onto Weardale Avenue.
Weardale Avenue42 m
Turn left onto Briardale Road.
Briardale Road478 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 3rd exit onto A189.
170 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A189922 m
Take the exit.
A1147306 m
Keep left to stay on A1147.
A114781 m
Keep right to stay on A1147.
A11471.3 km
Turn left onto Stakeford Road.
Stakeford Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road10 m
Turn left onto St. John's Road.
St. John's Road70 m
Turn left to stay on St. John's Road.
St. John's Road393 m
Turn right onto A1147.
A1147462 m
Take the A189 exit on the right.
A1893.4 km
Take the exit.
518 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A192.
145 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192647 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Laverock Hall Road/A1061.
23 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.
B15231.2 km
Turn right onto Plessey Road/B1523.
Plessey Road86 m
Turn right onto Links View.
Links View32 m
Turn right to stay on Links View.
Links View226 m
Turn left onto Willow Crescent.
Willow Crescent162 m
Turn left onto Links View.
Links View186 m
Turn left onto Willow Crescent.
Willow Crescent162 m
Turn right onto Links View.
Links View41 m
Turn left to stay on Links View.
Links View32 m
Turn left onto Plessey Road/B1523. Continue on B1523.
B15231.3 km
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 3rd exit onto A192.
133 m
Exit the roundabout onto A192.
A192651 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit.
422 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A1897.8 km
Enter North Seaton Roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
North Seaton Roundabout269 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Seaton Road/B1334.
North Seaton Road1.3 km
Turn right onto Melrose Terrace.
Melrose Terrace231 m
Turn left.
45 m
Turn left onto Meldon Terrace.
Meldon Terrace214 m
Turn left onto Beach Terrace.
Beach Terrace18 m
Turn right onto Sydney Terrace.
Sydney Terrace32 m
Turn left to stay on Sydney Terrace.
Sydney Terrace16 m
Turn left onto North Seaton Road/B1334.
North Seaton Road1.3 km
Enter North Seaton Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A189.
North Seaton Roundabout95 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A1894.8 km
Take the exit.
A189366 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A193.
188 m
Exit the roundabout onto A193.
A193347 m
Turn right onto Furnace Road.
Furnace Road343 m
Keep right to stay on Furnace Road.
Furnace Road135 m
Keep right to stay on Furnace Road.
Furnace Road742 m
Turn right onto B1311.
B1311460 m
Take the exit.
316 m
Move left onto A1147.
A114769 m
Keep right to stay on A1147.
A1147143 m
Take the exit.
A1893.8 km
Enter North Seaton Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto North Seaton Road/B1334.
North Seaton Roundabout269 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Seaton Road/B1334.
North Seaton Road2.0 km
Turn left onto Woodhorn Lane/A197. Continue on A197.
A1971.8 km
Turn left to stay on A197.
A19713 m
Keep straight to stay on A197.
A197383 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A189.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A189334 m
Enter Woodhorn Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A189.
Woodhorn Roundabout112 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A1891.8 km
Enter North Seaton Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A189.
North Seaton Roundabout151 m
Exit the roundabout onto A189.
A1894.8 km
Take the exit.
A189365 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A193.
18 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 Road2.6 km
Turn left onto Cowpen Road/A193. Continue on A193.
A193660 m
Move left onto Broadway Circle/A193.
Broadway Circle17 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 9th exit onto Broadway Circle/A193.
354 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 View226 m
Turn left onto Willow Crescent.
Willow Crescent162 m
Turn left onto Links View.
Links View186 m
Turn left onto Willow Crescent.
Willow Crescent162 m
Turn right onto Links View.
Links View41 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 the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Broadway Circle.
163 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. Continue on A193.
A19378 m
Enter Broadway Circle and take the 6th exit onto Broadway Circle/A193.
Broadway Circle216 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadway Circle/A193. Continue on A193.
A1932.2 km
Turn right to stay on Cowpen Road.
Cowpen Road76 m
Make a left U-turn at Cowpen Road onto Cowpen Road/A193.
Cowpen Road1.3 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 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 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 9 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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at North Seaton Roundabout, Woodhorn Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 19.3 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, 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.
Cowpen Methodist Church
Continue to Cowpen Methodist Church.
King's Arms
Continue to King's Arms.
War Memoiral Garden
Continue to War Memoiral Garden.
Clayton Arms
Continue to Clayton Arms.
Congregation Of Yahweh
Continue to Congregation Of Yahweh.
St Bede Church
Continue to St Bede Church.
North Seaton Roundabout
Continue to North Seaton Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Riga Garl Hair Design
Continue to Riga Garl Hair Design.
Bank Top
Continue to Bank Top.
Bebside Inn
Continue to Bebside Inn.
Ink Spot Craft Ale Bar
Continue to Ink Spot Craft Ale Bar.
St. Andrew & St. Marks Church
Continue to St. Andrew & St. Marks Church.
Woodhorn Roundabout
Continue to Woodhorn Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
SureStart Centre Blyth Central Children's Centre
Continue to SureStart Centre Blyth Central Children's Centre.
Plessey Chippy
Continue to Plessey Chippy.
Sea Horse
Continue to Sea Horse.
St Cuthberts Church
Continue to St Cuthberts Church.
Quay
Continue to Quay.
Reef Hotel
Finish back near Reef Hotel, 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 72.4 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.