Near Buckie test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts and 19 turns across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 56.4 km practice loop near Buckie 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 Burns Square. 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, 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 named junctions, shops, pubs and churches, 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 Buckie 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 187-step drive on real, named roads (about 56.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southeast.
25 m
Turn left.
68 m
Turn left onto Cathcart Grove.
Cathcart Grove67 m
Turn right onto Newland's Lane.
Newland's Lane172 m
Turn right onto Harbour Street.
Harbour Street193 m
Enter Burns Square and take the 4th exit onto Harbour Street.
Burns Square81 m
Exit the roundabout onto Harbour Street.
Harbour Street267 m
Turn right onto East Church Street.
East Church Street72 m
Turn right.
88 m
Turn left onto Linn Avenue.
Linn Avenue231 m
Turn left.
67 m
Turn left onto Cliff Terrace.
Cliff Terrace249 m
Turn right.
23 m
Turn right onto East Church Street.
East Church Street349 m
Turn left onto Freuchny Road.
Freuchny Road108 m
Turn right onto Commercial Road/A942. Continue on A942.
A942166 m
Turn right onto March Street.
March Street75 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on March Street.
March Street75 m
Turn left onto Rathburn Street/A942. Continue on A942.
A942229 m
Keep right to stay on A942.
A942806 m
Turn left onto North High Street/A942.
North High Street166 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto High Street/A942.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Street/A942.
High Street323 m
Turn left onto Freuchny Lane.
Freuchny Lane63 m
Turn left onto Garden Lane.
Garden Lane187 m
Turn right onto East Cathcart Street.
East Cathcart Street188 m
Turn left onto Cathcart Grove.
Cathcart Grove140 m
Turn right onto East Church Street.
East Church Street596 m
Turn left onto Freuchny Road.
Freuchny Road108 m
Turn right onto Commercial Road/A942. Continue on A942.
A942348 m
Turn left onto Blantyre Terrace.
Blantyre Terrace39 m
Turn right onto Seafield Street.
Seafield Street96 m
Turn left onto Ianstown Terrace.
Ianstown Terrace50 m
Turn left onto Crown Street.
Crown Street83 m
Turn left onto Blantyre Terrace.
Blantyre Terrace84 m
Turn right onto Rathburn Street/A942. Continue on A942.
A9421.2 km
Turn right onto Bank Street/A990. Continue on A990.
A990313 m
Keep right to take Yardie/A990.
Yardie100 m
Keep straight to stay on A990.
A990223 m
Turn left onto Bridge End.
Bridge End300 m
Turn right onto Seaview Road.
Seaview Road275 m
Turn left onto Robert Street.
Robert Street121 m
Keep left to stay on Robert Street.
Robert Street170 m
Turn left onto St Peter's Road/C31L. Continue on C31L.
C31L193 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto St Andrew's Square.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto St Andrew's Square.
St Andrew's Square43 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto West Church Street.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Church Street.
West Church Street701 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto North High Street/A942.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto North High Street/A942.
North High Street164 m
Turn right onto Bank Street/A942. Continue on A942.
A94281 m
Keep left to take Low Street/A942.
Low Street124 m
Keep left to stay on A942.
A942600 m
Keep right to stay on A942.
A942727 m
Keep left to stay on A942.
A942712 m
Turn right.
37 m
Turn right onto Chapel Street.
Chapel Street130 m
Turn left onto Chancellor Road.
Chancellor Road24 m
Keep left to stay on Chancellor Road.
Chancellor Road84 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road136 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Station Road.
Station Road137 m
Turn right onto Chancellor Road.
Chancellor Road109 m
Turn right onto Chapel Street.
Chapel Street57 m
Move right to stay on Chapel Street.
Chapel Street72 m
Turn left.
37 m
Turn left onto Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road600 m
Keep right to stay on A942.
A942222 m
Keep right to take Reidhaven Street/A942.
Reidhaven Street1.4 km
Turn left onto North High Street/A942.
North High Street86 m
Turn right onto Seaview Place.
Seaview Place128 m
Turn right onto Cluny Place.
Cluny Place87 m
Turn left onto Paterson's Lane.
Paterson's Lane180 m
Turn left onto North Pringle Street.
North Pringle Street161 m
Turn right onto West Church Street/C31L. Continue on West Church Street.
West Church Street389 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto St Andrew's Square.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto St Andrew's Square.
St Andrew's Square47 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto St Andrew's Square/C31L.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto St Andrew's Square/C31L. Continue on C31L.
C31L234 m
Turn left onto Seld Street.
Seld Street68 m
Turn left onto Mckenzie Road.
Mckenzie Road122 m
Turn right onto Turner Street.
Turner Street65 m
Turn right onto Inward Road.
Inward Road170 m
Turn right onto Cooper Street.
Cooper Street69 m
Turn right onto Mckenzie Road.
Mckenzie Road44 m
Turn left onto Seld Street.
Seld Street68 m
Turn right onto St Peter's Road/C31L. Continue on C31L.
C31L233 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto St Andrew's Square.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto St Andrew's Square.
St Andrew's Square43 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto West Church Street.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Church Street.
West Church Street387 m
Turn left onto North Pringle Street.
North Pringle Street160 m
Turn right onto Hall Street.
Hall Street180 m
Turn right onto Cluny Terrace.
Cluny Terrace87 m
Turn left onto Seaview Place.
Seaview Place128 m
Turn left onto North High Street/A942.
North High Street85 m
Turn right onto Bank Street/A942. Continue on A942.
A94281 m
Keep left to take Low Street/A942.
Low Street724 m
Keep right to stay on A942.
A942727 m
Keep left to stay on A942.
A9421.2 km
Keep left to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road116 m
Keep left to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road484 m
Keep right to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road159 m
Keep right to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road186 m
Keep right to stay on A942.
A942151 m
Keep right to take Strathlene Road/A942.
Strathlene Road154 m
Keep left to stay on A942.
A942257 m
Keep left to take Schoolhill/B9020.
Schoolhill8 m
Keep left to stay on B9020.
B9020543 m
Turn left onto Hall Street.
Hall Street167 m
Turn left onto Dyce Crescent.
Dyce Crescent123 m
Turn right to stay on Dyce Crescent.
Dyce Crescent230 m
Turn left onto Station Road/B9020. Continue on Station Road.
Station Road58 m
Turn right onto A942.
A942546 m
Turn left onto Netherton Terrace/A942. Continue on A942.
A942514 m
Keep left to stay on A942.
A942351 m
Keep right to take Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road160 m
Keep right to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road117 m
Keep right to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road242 m
Keep left to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road698 m
Turn left.
35 m
Turn right onto Chapel Street.
Chapel Street207 m
Turn left onto Chancellor Road.
Chancellor Road24 m
Keep left to stay on Chancellor Road.
Chancellor Road84 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road136 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Station Road.
Station Road137 m
Turn right onto Chancellor Road.
Chancellor Road109 m
Turn right onto Chapel Street.
Chapel Street57 m
Move right to stay on Chapel Street.
Chapel Street252 m
Move right onto Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road351 m
Keep left to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road503 m
Keep right to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road117 m
Keep right to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road160 m
Keep right to stay on Great Eastern Road/A942.
Great Eastern Road105 m
Keep right to stay on A942.
A942151 m
Keep right to take Strathlene Road/A942.
Strathlene Road154 m
Keep left to stay on A942.
A942454 m
Turn right to stay on A942.
A9422.7 km
Turn right onto King Edward Terrace.
King Edward Terrace654 m
Turn left onto A942.
A942137 m
Move left onto Bridge Street/A942. Continue on Bridge Street.
Bridge Street161 m
Move right onto Reidhaven Street.
Reidhaven Street142 m
Turn left onto Commercial Road.
Commercial Road25 m
Turn left onto New Street.
New Street1.3 km
Turn left to stay on A942.
A942379 m
Turn right onto A98.
A9865 m
Keep left to stay on A98.
A986.2 km
Keep right to stay on A98.
A98150 m
Keep right to stay on A98.
A98411 m
Keep right to stay on A98.
A981.7 km
Keep right to stay on A98.
A98119 m
Keep right to stay on A98.
A982.0 km
Keep right to stay on A98.
A98226 m
Turn right onto A990.
A9901.9 km
Turn right onto Lennox Place/A990. Continue on A990.
A990222 m
Keep left to stay on A990.
A990230 m
Turn left onto High Street East/A990.
High Street East32 m
Turn right onto Hope Street/A990. Continue on A990.
A9901.1 km
Keep straight to stay on A990.
A990365 m
Keep right to stay on A990.
A9901.1 km
Keep right to stay on A990.
A990320 m
Keep right to stay on A990.
A990341 m
Keep left to stay on A990.
A990147 m
Turn left onto Bank Street/A942. Continue on A942.
A942165 m
Keep left to stay on A942.
A942641 m
Keep right to take Commercial Road/A942.
Commercial Road411 m
Turn left onto Blantyre Terrace.
Blantyre Terrace39 m
Turn right onto Seafield Street.
Seafield Street96 m
Turn right onto Ianstown Terrace.
Ianstown Terrace49 m
Turn right onto Reidhaven Street/A942. Continue on A942.
A942449 m
Turn left onto Freuchny Road.
Freuchny Road108 m
Turn right onto East Church Street.
East Church Street349 m
Turn left.
88 m
Turn left onto Linn Avenue.
Linn Avenue231 m
Turn left.
67 m
Turn left onto Cliff Terrace.
Cliff Terrace249 m
Turn right.
23 m
Turn left onto East Church Street.
East Church Street72 m
Turn left onto Harbour Street.
Harbour Street267 m
Enter Burns Square and take the 4th exit onto Harbour Street.
Burns Square81 m
Exit the roundabout onto Harbour Street.
Harbour Street267 m
Turn left onto East Church Street.
East Church Street430 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto High Street/A942.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Street/A942.
High Street524 m
Turn right to stay on High Street.
High Street184 m
Turn left onto High Street/A942.
High Street546 m
Turn right onto East Cathcart Street.
East Cathcart Street128 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Buckie · Route 3 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 (30, 40, 50, 60 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.
Burns Square
Start near Burns Square.
Eat mare fish
Continue to Eat mare fish.
Pub in the Square
Continue to Pub in the Square.
Sandy's Carpets
Continue to Sandy's Carpets.
All Saints
Continue to All Saints.
Gospel Hall
Continue to Gospel Hall.
Buckie Baptist Church
Continue to Buckie Baptist Church.
Buckie Church of Christ
Continue to Buckie Church of Christ.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
Findochty Methodist Church
Continue to Findochty Methodist Church.
Salvation Army - Findochty
Continue to Salvation Army - Findochty.
Portknockie Primary School
Continue to Portknockie Primary School.
Seafield Inn
Continue to Seafield Inn.
Boyd Food Machinery
Continue to Boyd Food Machinery.
Enzie Parish Church
Continue to Enzie Parish Church.
Harbour Bar
Continue to Harbour Bar.
Star Inn
Continue to Star Inn.
North Church
Continue to North Church.
Riverside Christian Church
Continue to Riverside Christian Church.
Buckie South and West Church of Scotland
Finish back near Buckie South and West Church of Scotland, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 17 turns
2 roundabouts · 14 turns
5 roundabouts · 18 turns
This route is 56.4 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Buckie test centre, not an official DVSA route.