Near Chesterfield test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 15 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 66.1 km practice loop near Chesterfield 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 Meltham Lane. 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 pubs, stations, shops and named junctions, 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 Chesterfield 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 115-step drive on real, named roads (about 66.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
74 m
Turn right onto Sheffield Road/B6057.
Sheffield Road247 m
Turn left onto Wharf Lane.
Wharf Lane150 m
Turn left onto Hardwick Street.
Hardwick Street119 m
Turn right onto Sheffield Road/B6057.
Sheffield Road864 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Lockoford Lane.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lockoford Lane.
Lockoford Lane354 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Lockoford Lane.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lockoford Lane.
Lockoford Lane519 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto A61.
186 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61.
A611.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A61.
86 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61.
A61417 m
Keep right to stay on A61.
A61418 m
Keep right to stay on A61.
A61245 m
Keep right to stay on A61.
A61175 m
Keep right to stay on A61.
A61168 m
Keep right to stay on A61.
A61146 m
Keep right to stay on A61.
A616.4 km
Enter Bowshaw and take the 1st exit onto A61/Chesterfield Road South.
Bowshaw56 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Chesterfield Road South.
A611.1 km
Enter Meadowhead Roundabout and take the 4th exit towards Chesterfield.
Meadowhead Roundabout188 m
Exit the roundabout towards Chesterfield.
A61373 m
Keep left to stay on A61/Chesterfield Road South.
A61729 m
Enter Bowshaw and take the 3rd exit onto A61/Unstone-Dronfield By-Pass.
Bowshaw161 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Unstone-Dronfield By-Pass.
A615.7 km
Take the exit.
A61518 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto B6057.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto B6057.
B605729 m
Move left.
59 m
Turn right onto Sheffield Road/B6057.
Sheffield Road1.7 km
Turn right onto Station Road/B6052.
Station Road86 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A61.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61.
A611.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A61.
79 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61.
A612.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A61/Derby Road.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Derby Road. Continue on A61.
A61865 m
Keep straight to take A61/Derby Road.
A61377 m
Keep left to stay on A61/Derby Road.
A611.2 km
Keep right to stay on A61/Derby Road.
A61216 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A61/Derby Road.
71 m
Exit the roundabout onto A61/Derby Road.
A6134 m
Keep left to stay on A61/Derby Road.
A61185 m
Keep left to stay on A61/Derby Road.
A611.2 km
Turn right onto Storforth Lane.
Storforth Lane901 m
Turn left onto Branksome Chine Avenue.
Branksome Chine Avenue30 m
Turn left onto Durley Chine Drive.
Durley Chine Drive134 m
Keep right to take Storforth Lane Terrace.
Storforth Lane Terrace257 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Storforth Lane Terrace.
Storforth Lane Terrace391 m
Turn right onto Branksome Chine Avenue.
Branksome Chine Avenue30 m
Turn left onto Storforth Lane.
Storforth Lane381 m
Turn right onto The Green/B6038.
The Green210 m
Turn left onto Broomfield Avenue.
Broomfield Avenue421 m
Turn right onto St Pauls Avenue.
St Pauls Avenue177 m
Turn left onto Norwood Avenue.
Norwood Avenue128 m
Keep straight to stay on Norwood Avenue.
Norwood Avenue573 m
Turn left onto Hillcrest Road.
Hillcrest Road133 m
Turn left onto Broomfield Avenue.
Broomfield Avenue352 m
Turn left onto Norwood Avenue.
Norwood Avenue102 m
Keep left to stay on Norwood Avenue.
Norwood Avenue303 m
Turn left onto Hillcrest Road.
Hillcrest Road133 m
Turn left onto Broomfield Avenue.
Broomfield Avenue109 m
Keep left to stay on Broomfield Avenue.
Broomfield Avenue243 m
Turn left onto Norwood Avenue.
Norwood Avenue102 m
Keep left to stay on Norwood Avenue.
Norwood Avenue303 m
Turn right onto Hillcrest Road.
Hillcrest Road115 m
Turn right onto Mansfield Road/B6039.
Mansfield Road811 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Mansfield Road/B6039.
53 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mansfield Road/B6039.
Mansfield Road1.8 km
Keep left to stay on B6039.
B6039791 m
Turn right onto Valley Road.
Valley Road214 m
Turn left onto Cemetery Road.
Cemetery Road40 m
Keep left to stay on Cemetery Road.
Cemetery Road143 m
Move left onto Hady Hill/A632.
Hady Hill267 m
Turn left onto Spital Lane.
Spital Lane33 m
Keep left to stay on Spital Lane.
Spital Lane468 m
Move left onto St Leonards Drive/B6039. Continue on B6039.
B6039445 m
Keep right to take Hasland Road/B6039.
Hasland Road2.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Mansfield Road/B6039.
10 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mansfield Road/B6039.
Mansfield Road804 m
Keep left to stay on Mansfield Road/B6039.
Mansfield Road508 m
Turn left onto Hassocky Lane/B6425.
Hassocky Lane2.0 km
Keep straight to take Moor Lane/B6425.
Moor Lane728 m
Keep left to take Deepsick Lane/B6425.
Deepsick Lane162 m
Keep right to stay on Deepsick Lane/B6425.
Deepsick Lane31 m
Turn right onto Chesterfield Road/A632.
Chesterfield Road91 m
Keep left to stay on Chesterfield Road/A632.
Chesterfield Road151 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Chesterfield Road/A632.
112 m
Exit the roundabout onto Chesterfield Road/A632.
Chesterfield Road179 m
Keep left to stay on Chesterfield Road/A632.
Chesterfield Road68 m
Turn left onto Deepsick Lane/B6425. Continue on B6425.
B64251.0 km
Keep left to take Moor Lane/B6425.
Moor Lane205 m
Keep left to stay on B6425.
B6425110 m
Keep straight to take Hassocky Lane.
Hassocky Lane436 m
Keep right to stay on Hassocky Lane/B6425.
Hassocky Lane207 m
Keep right to stay on Hassocky Lane/B6425.
Hassocky Lane680 m
Turn left to take the ramp.
A6173.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 6th exit onto A617.
682 m
Exit the roundabout onto A617.
A6177.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A617.
143 m
Exit the roundabout onto A617.
A617245 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Lordsmill Street.
74 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lordsmill Street.
Lordsmill Street635 m
Turn right onto B6543.
B6543153 m
Turn right onto Holywell Street/B6543. Continue on B6543.
B6543415 m
Turn left onto Spa Lane.
Spa Lane49 m
Turn left onto Station Road.
Station Road203 m
Turn left onto Corporation Street.
Corporation Street31 m
Keep right to stay on Corporation Street.
Corporation Street75 m
Turn right onto Holywell Street/B6543. Continue on B6543.
B6543250 m
Turn right to stay on B6543.
B6543127 m
Move left onto Holywell Street/B6057.
Holywell Street92 m
Turn right onto Sheffield Road/B6057.
Sheffield Road457 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chesterfield · Route 11 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.
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 36.3 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.
Donkey Derby
Start near Donkey Derby.
Stagecoach Bus Depot
Continue to Stagecoach Bus Depot.
Chesterfield Road South/Sports Ground
Continue to Chesterfield Road South/Sports Ground.
Chesterfield Road South/Bochum Parkway
Continue to Chesterfield Road South/Bochum Parkway.
Chesterfield Road South/Bus Link Road
Continue to Chesterfield Road South/Bus Link Road.
Riverside Garden Centre
Continue to Riverside Garden Centre.
Meltham Lane
Continue to Meltham Lane, taking the junction with good observation.
Church of the Holy Family
Continue to Church of the Holy Family.
Derby Road Methodist Church
Continue to Derby Road Methodist Church.
ATI Tyres
Continue to ATI Tyres.
Esteem North Academy
Continue to Esteem North Academy.
Kallisto Nails and Beauty
Continue to Kallisto Nails and Beauty.
Hasland Hops
Continue to Hasland Hops.
Three Cottages
Continue to Three Cottages.
St Leonard's
Continue to St Leonard's.
Hasland Methodist Church
Continue to Hasland Methodist Church.
Chesterfield Garden Centre
Continue to Chesterfield Garden Centre.
Punch Bowl
Continue to Punch Bowl.
Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Christadelphian Hall.
Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints
Finish back near Parish Church of St Mary and All Saints, completing the loop.
9 roundabouts · 16 turns
10 roundabouts · 11 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 14 turns · 1 set of lights
11 roundabouts · 8 turns
This route is 66.1 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chesterfield test centre, not an official DVSA route.