Near Carmarthen test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 13 roundabouts, 9 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 43.5 km practice loop near Carmarthen 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 Heol Llangynnwr. 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 named junctions, shops, schools 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 Carmarthen 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 132-step drive on real, named roads (about 43.6 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southeast.
16 m
Turn right onto Old Station Road.
Old Station Road170 m
Turn left onto Castle Hill/A484. Continue on A484.
A484196 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Heol Llangynnwr/A484.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Heol Llangynnwr/A484.
Heol Llangynnwr152 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A40.
145 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40.
A40709 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Abergwaun/Fishgard/Sancler/Saint Clears.
130 m
Exit the roundabout towards Abergwaun/Fishgard/Sancler/Saint Clears.
A40702 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Abergwaun/Fishgard/Sancler/Saint Clears.
15 m
Exit the roundabout towards Abergwaun/Fishgard/Sancler/Saint Clears.
A40733 m
Take the exit towards Johnstown/Llansteffan/B4312.
227 m
Turn right onto Llansteffan Road/B4312.
Llansteffan Road748 m
Turn right onto Ystrad Drive.
Ystrad Drive80 m
Turn left to stay on Ystrad Drive.
Ystrad Drive150 m
Turn right onto Heol Morfa Brenin.
Heol Morfa Brenin168 m
Turn left onto Towy Close.
Towy Close34 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Towy Close.
Towy Close34 m
Turn left onto Heol Morfa Brenin.
Heol Morfa Brenin75 m
Turn right onto Heol Drindod.
Heol Drindod239 m
Turn left onto Ystrad Drive.
Ystrad Drive80 m
Turn left onto Llansteffan Road/B4312.
Llansteffan Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Old St Clears Road/B4312.
Old St Clears Road80 m
Turn left onto Heol Salem.
Heol Salem127 m
Turn left onto Pondside.
Pondside129 m
Turn right onto Llansteffan Road/B4312.
Llansteffan Road337 m
Turn right onto Alltycnap Road.
Alltycnap Road5.8 km
Move right.
1.4 km
Turn right onto A40/E 30.
A403.8 km
Take the exit towards Llanllwch/Traveller's Rest/Maes Y Sioe/Showground.
Llysonen Road190 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Llysonnen Road/B4312.
102 m
Exit the roundabout onto Llysonnen Road/B4312.
Llysonnen Road100 m
Turn left onto Llysonnen Road/B4312. Continue on B4312.
B43121.1 km
Turn right onto Llansteffan Road/B4312.
Llansteffan Road251 m
Turn right.
187 m
Move left onto A40/E 30.
A40564 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4242.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4242.
A4242296 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4242.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4242.
A4242250 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Coracle Way/A4242.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way246 m
Move right to stay on Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way16 m
Turn left onto Castle Hill/A484.
Castle Hill7 m
Turn right onto Old Station Road.
Old Station Road262 m
Turn right.
5 m
Make a right U-turn.
5 m
Turn left onto Old Station Road.
Old Station Road262 m
Turn left onto Castle Hill/A484. Continue on A484.
A484196 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A484.
81 m
Exit the roundabout onto A484.
A484187 m
Move left onto Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way43 m
Move left to stay on Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way216 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4242.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4242.
A4242248 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Morfa Lane/B4312.
48 m
Exit the roundabout onto Morfa Lane/B4312.
Morfa Lane335 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Park Terrace/B4312.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Park Terrace/B4312. Continue on B4312.
B4312834 m
Turn left onto Llansteffan Road/B4312.
Llansteffan Road251 m
Turn right.
187 m
Move left onto A40/E 30.
A40564 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4242.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4242.
A4242296 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Morfa Lane/B4312.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Morfa Lane/B4312.
Morfa Lane335 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Morfa Lane/B4312.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Morfa Lane/B4312.
Morfa Lane338 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4242.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4242.
A4242250 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Blue Street.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Blue Street.
Blue Street34 m
Turn left.
146 m
Turn left.
44 m
Turn left.
67 m
Move right.
107 m
Turn right.
34 m
Turn right onto Blue Street.
Blue Street30 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Coracle Way/A4242.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way246 m
Move right to stay on Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way16 m
Turn left onto Castle Hill/A484.
Castle Hill19 m
Turn left onto Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way16 m
Move right to stay on Coracle Way/A4242.
Coracle Way243 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4242.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4242.
A4242248 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4242.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4242.
A4242292 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Abergwaun/Fishgard/Sancler/Saint Clears.
57 m
Exit the roundabout towards Abergwaun/Fishgard/Sancler/Saint Clears.
A40733 m
Take the exit towards Johnstown/Llansteffan/B4312.
227 m
Turn right onto Llansteffan Road/B4312.
Llansteffan Road748 m
Turn right onto Ystrad Drive.
Ystrad Drive80 m
Turn left to stay on Ystrad Drive.
Ystrad Drive150 m
Turn right onto Heol Morfa Brenin.
Heol Morfa Brenin168 m
Turn left onto Towy Close.
Towy Close34 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Towy Close.
Towy Close34 m
Turn left onto Heol Morfa Brenin.
Heol Morfa Brenin75 m
Turn right onto Heol Drindod.
Heol Drindod239 m
Turn left onto Ystrad Drive.
Ystrad Drive80 m
Turn left onto Llansteffan Road/B4312.
Llansteffan Road859 m
Turn left.
187 m
Move left onto A40/E 30.
A40564 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A40/E 30.
115 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40/E 30.
A40681 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A40.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40.
A40699 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Heol Llangynnwr/A484.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Heol Llangynnwr/A484.
Heol Llangynnwr153 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Pensarn Road.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pensarn Road.
Pensarn Road421 m
Turn left.
46 m
Turn left onto Penymorfa Lane.
Penymorfa Lane973 m
Make a sharp left onto Heol Llangynnwr/B4300. Continue on B4300.
B4300456 m
Enter Heol Llangynnwr and take the 4th exit onto A40.
Heol Llangynnwr159 m
Exit the roundabout onto A40.
A402.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A485.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A485.
A485443 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Dolgwili Road/A485.
67 m
Exit the roundabout onto Dolgwili Road/A485. Continue on A485.
A485986 m
Turn left.
504 m
Turn left.
873 m
Turn right onto Dolgwili Road/A485. Continue on A485.
A485189 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Dolgwili Road/A4243.
92 m
Exit the roundabout onto Dolgwili Road/A4243.
Dolgwili Road627 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bronwydd Road/A484.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bronwydd Road/A484.
Bronwydd Road259 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Tanerdy/A484.
60 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tanerdy/A484. Continue on A484.
A4841.2 km
Turn left onto Church Street/A484. Continue on A484.
A484134 m
Turn left onto Parade Road.
Parade Road59 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Carmarthen · 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
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 13.2 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.
Heol Llangynnwr
Start near Heol Llangynnwr.
Range
Continue to Range.
UWTSD - Y Strad
Continue to UWTSD - Y Strad.
Johnstown Park
Continue to Johnstown Park.
Poplars Inn
Continue to Poplars Inn.
Carmarthenshire Tyre Services
Continue to Carmarthenshire Tyre Services.
Coed Wern-Ddu
Continue to Coed Wern-Ddu.
Nisa Local
Continue to Nisa Local.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Towy Works Builders Merchant
Continue to Towy Works Builders Merchant.
Carmarthen Quins Rugby Football Club
Continue to Carmarthen Quins Rugby Football Club.
Christ Church
Continue to Christ Church.
Carmarthen Camera Centre
Continue to Carmarthen Camera Centre.
Carmarthen Bus Station
Continue to Carmarthen Bus Station.
Carmarthen Bus Station (Stop 2)
Continue to Carmarthen Bus Station (Stop 2).
Babell Zion Newydd
Continue to Babell Zion Newydd.
Danny Jones
Continue to Danny Jones.
Uned Cardio-Anadiol / Cardio-Respiratory Unit
Continue to Uned Cardio-Anadiol / Cardio-Respiratory Unit.
Priory Street
Continue to Priory Street.
St. Peter's
Finish back near St. Peter's, completing the loop.
9 roundabouts · 17 turns · 4 sets of lights
14 roundabouts · 11 turns · 2 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 11 turns · 7 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 10 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 43.5 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Carmarthen test centre, not an official DVSA route.