Near Bolton test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 3 roundabouts, 22 turns and 5 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 100.0 km practice route near Bolton 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 Watergate Lane Interchange and Thynne Street. 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 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, pubs, named junctions and stations, 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 Bolton 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 149-step drive on real, named roads (about 100.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
129 m
Turn right.
22 m
Turn left onto Weston Street.
Weston Street638 m
Turn right onto Manchester Road/B6536.
Manchester Road232 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Manchester Road/B6536.
Manchester Road227 m
Turn left onto Weston Street.
Weston Street811 m
Turn left onto Rishton Lane.
Rishton Lane174 m
Turn right onto Settle Street.
Settle Street186 m
Turn left onto Rupert Street.
Rupert Street46 m
Turn left onto Alder Street.
Alder Street121 m
Turn right onto Back Rishton Lane.
Back Rishton Lane46 m
Turn left onto Beechwood Street.
Beechwood Street38 m
Turn right onto Rishton Lane.
Rishton Lane241 m
Turn left onto Green Lane.
Green Lane729 m
Turn left onto Leverhulme Avenue.
Leverhulme Avenue253 m
Turn left onto Westbourne Avenue.
Westbourne Avenue242 m
Turn right onto Bradford Road.
Bradford Road196 m
Turn left onto Parkfield Road.
Parkfield Road167 m
Turn left onto Newport Road.
Newport Road54 m
Turn left onto Smedley Avenue.
Smedley Avenue159 m
Turn right onto Bradford Road.
Bradford Road1.8 km
Turn right onto Highfield Road.
Highfield Road398 m
Turn left onto Anchor Lane.
Anchor Lane772 m
Turn right onto Newcombe Drive.
Newcombe Drive117 m
Turn left onto Wellstock Lane.
Wellstock Lane192 m
Turn left onto Old Lane.
Old Lane592 m
Turn left onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
Cleggs Lane667 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cleggs Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.9 km
Move right onto Higher Market Street/A6053. Continue on A6053.
A6053229 m
Enter Kearsley Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
Kearsley Interchange14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
A6664.1 km
Take the exit.
A666317 m
Turn right onto Bradford Street/A579. Continue on A579.
A5791.2 km
Turn right onto Hilton Street.
Hilton Street22 m
Turn left onto Tonge Old Road.
Tonge Old Road50 m
Turn right onto Romer Street.
Romer Street156 m
Turn left onto Edditch Grove.
Edditch Grove39 m
Turn right onto Clegg Street.
Clegg Street78 m
Turn left onto Back Clegg Street.
Back Clegg Street32 m
Turn right onto Back Edditch Grove.
Back Edditch Grove26 m
Turn left onto Hengist Street.
Hengist Street135 m
Turn left onto Tonge Old Road.
Tonge Old Road151 m
Move left onto Bury Road/A579. Continue on A579.
A579401 m
Keep left to take Bradford Street/A579.
Bradford Street633 m
Take the exit.
A6664.1 km
Take the Kearsley Interchange exit towards Kearsley.
A666399 m
Enter Kearsley Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto Bolton Road/A6053.
Kearsley Interchange196 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bolton Road/A6053.
Bolton Road231 m
Move left onto Longcauseway/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.1 km
Turn left onto Greenhill Avenue.
Greenhill Avenue208 m
Turn right onto Westland Avenue.
Westland Avenue290 m
Turn left onto Buckley Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A5082394 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
Cleggs Lane1.0 km
Turn right onto Manchester Road West/A6. Continue on A6.
A62.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Salford Road/A6.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salford Road/A6.
Salford Road1.3 km
Turn right onto St Helens Road/A579.
St Helens Road1.2 km
Turn left onto Hulton Lane/A6145.
Hulton Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Patterson Street.
Patterson Street146 m
Turn right onto Worsley Road.
Worsley Road98 m
Turn left onto Kirkebrok Road.
Kirkebrok Road36 m
Turn left onto Deane Church Lane.
Deane Church Lane164 m
Turn left onto Wigan Road/A676.
Wigan Road2.2 km
Enter Hunger Hill Interchange and take the 1st exit onto M61.
Hunger Hill Interchange25 m
Exit the roundabout onto M61.
M616.5 km
Take exit 3 onto A666 towards Kearsley/Farnworth.
M611.1 km
Enter Kearsley Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Bolton Road/A6053.
Kearsley Interchange20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bolton Road/A6053.
Bolton Road231 m
Move left onto Longcauseway/A5082.
Longcauseway611 m
Move left onto Worsley Road/A575.
Worsley Road338 m
Turn right onto Brookhouse Avenue.
Brookhouse Avenue334 m
Turn right onto Greenhill Avenue.
Greenhill Avenue97 m
Turn left onto Buckley Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A5082757 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
Cleggs Lane1.0 km
Turn right onto Manchester Road West/A6. Continue on A6.
A62.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Salford Road/A6.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salford Road/A6.
Salford Road1.3 km
Turn right onto St Helens Road/A579.
St Helens Road1.2 km
Turn left onto Hulton Lane/A6145.
Hulton Lane1.1 km
Turn right onto Patterson Street.
Patterson Street146 m
Turn right onto Worsley Road.
Worsley Road27 m
Turn right onto Back Patterson Street.
Back Patterson Street18 m
Turn left onto Harrop Street.
Harrop Street68 m
Turn right onto Kirkebrok Road.
Kirkebrok Road179 m
Turn left onto Hulton Lane/A6145.
Hulton Lane986 m
Turn right onto St Helens Road/A579. Continue on A579.
A5794.5 km
Move left onto Church Street/A577.
Church Street128 m
Turn right onto Market Street/A577. Continue on Market Street.
Market Street110 m
Turn left onto Crab Tree Lane.
Crab Tree Lane188 m
Turn right onto Hamilton Street.
Hamilton Street585 m
Turn left onto Bee Fold Lane.
Bee Fold Lane239 m
Move left onto Lowland Meadows.
Lowland Meadows103 m
Turn right onto Bee Fold Lane.
Bee Fold Lane666 m
Turn right onto Long Causeway.
Long Causeway739 m
Turn right to stay on Long Causeway.
Long Causeway29 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Long Causeway.
Long Causeway768 m
Turn left onto Bee Fold Lane.
Bee Fold Lane666 m
Turn left onto Lowland Meadows.
Lowland Meadows103 m
Move right onto Bee Fold Lane.
Bee Fold Lane239 m
Turn right onto Hamilton Street.
Hamilton Street869 m
Turn left onto Tyldesley Road/A577.
Tyldesley Road82 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street330 m
Turn right onto A579/Bolton Road. Continue on A579.
A5793.4 km
Turn right onto Plodder Lane/B6199. Continue on B6199.
B61994.4 km
Turn left onto A575.
A57523 m
Keep right to take Gladstone Road/A575.
Gladstone Road384 m
Turn left onto Bolton Road/A6053.
Bolton Road840 m
Take the A666 exit on the right.
A6661.8 km
Take the exit.
A666288 m
Keep left to take A579.
A579317 m
Move right onto Manchester Road/A579. Continue on A579.
A579272 m
Turn left onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street140 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridgeman Street.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridgeman Street.
Bridgeman Street982 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street298 m
Turn left onto Derby Street/A579. Continue on A579.
A5796.3 km
Turn left onto High Street.
High Street329 m
Turn left onto Tyldesley Road/A577. Continue on A577.
A5772.1 km
Turn left onto Manchester Road/A577. Continue on A577.
A5771.7 km
Turn left onto Mort Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50823.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cleggs Lane/A5082.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cleggs Lane/A5082. Continue on A5082.
A50821.9 km
Move right onto Higher Market Street/A6053. Continue on A6053.
A6053229 m
Enter Kearsley Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
Kearsley Interchange14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A666/St. Peter's Way.
A6663.1 km
Take the exit.
207 m
Turn left onto Raikes Lane/B6536.
Raikes Lane101 m
Keep right to stay on Raikes Lane/B6536.
Raikes Lane42 m
Turn right onto Manchester Road/B6536.
Manchester Road759 m
Turn left onto Orlando Street.
Orlando Street88 m
Turn left to stay on Orlando Street.
Orlando Street218 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Thynne Street.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street188 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Thynne Street.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street189 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thynne Street.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street182 m
Turn right onto Lever Street.
Lever Street432 m
Turn right onto Fletcher Street.
Fletcher Street259 m
Turn right to stay on Fletcher Street.
Fletcher Street456 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Thynne Street.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street189 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Thynne Street.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto Thynne Street.
Thynne Street638 m
Turn left onto Weston Street.
Weston Street125 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Bolton · Route 19 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.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Multiple roundabouts
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 25.3 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, 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.
Rose Hill United Reformed Church
Start near Rose Hill United Reformed Church.
Wharton & Cleggs Lane Church
Continue to Wharton & Cleggs Lane Church.
Bridgewater Hotel
Continue to Bridgewater Hotel.
Bolton Spiritualist Church
Continue to Bolton Spiritualist Church.
Bridge Church
Continue to Bridge Church.
New Jerusalem Church
Continue to New Jerusalem Church.
Ram Street Gospel Hall
Continue to Ram Street Gospel Hall.
St Andrew's Church Over Hulton
Continue to St Andrew's Church Over Hulton.
Deane United Reformed Church
Continue to Deane United Reformed Church.
Tavern Fayre
Continue to Tavern Fayre.
Watergate Lane Interchange
Continue to Watergate Lane Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Hulton Arms
Continue to Hulton Arms.
Atherton
Continue to Atherton.
Central Methodist Church
Continue to Central Methodist Church.
Moses Gate
Continue to Moses Gate.
Bolton
Continue to Bolton.
St Helens Road Methodist Church
Continue to St Helens Road Methodist Church.
Sacred Heart (closed)
Continue to Sacred Heart (closed).
Thynne Street
Continue to Thynne Street, taking the junction with good observation.
Markaz e Ahlebait
Finish back near Markaz e Ahlebait, completing the loop.
1 roundabout · 19 turns · 8 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 18 turns · 6 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 20 turns · 5 sets of lights
2 roundabouts · 16 turns · 10 sets of lights
This route is 100.0 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Bolton test centre, not an official DVSA route.