Near Chippenham test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 11 roundabouts and 11 turns across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 32.9 km practice route near Chippenham 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 Bumpers Farm, Cepen Park South and Brook 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 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, parks and schools, 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 Chippenham 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 107-step drive on real, named roads (about 32.8 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north.
23 m
Turn right.
39 m
Turn left onto Bumpers Way.
Bumpers Way765 m
Enter Bumpers Farm and take the 4th exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bumpers Farm135 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road551 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road20 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road136 m
Keep left to stay on Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road889 m
Turn left onto Park Fields.
Park Fields68 m
Turn left to stay on Park Fields.
Park Fields196 m
Turn left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace74 m
Turn right onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road405 m
Turn left onto Park Avenue.
Park Avenue356 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Park Avenue.
Park Avenue356 m
Turn right onto Bristol Road/A420. Continue on A420.
A420640 m
Turn left onto Park Fields.
Park Fields68 m
Turn left to stay on Park Fields.
Park Fields197 m
Turn left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace74 m
Turn right onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road792 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road20 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Old Hardenhuish Lane.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Old Hardenhuish Lane.
Old Hardenhuish Lane24 m
Keep right to stay on Old Hardenhuish Lane.
Old Hardenhuish Lane294 m
Turn left onto Hardenhuish Lane/B4528.
Hardenhuish Lane696 m
Turn right onto Ridings Mead.
Ridings Mead339 m
Turn left onto Long Ridings.
Long Ridings219 m
Turn left to stay on Long Ridings.
Long Ridings53 m
Turn left onto Malmesbury Road/B4158.
Malmesbury Road552 m
Turn left onto Hardenhuish Lane/B4528.
Hardenhuish Lane286 m
Turn left onto Ridings Mead.
Ridings Mead188 m
Turn right.
67 m
Move left onto Ridings Mead.
Ridings Mead137 m
Turn left onto Hardenhuish Lane/B4528.
Hardenhuish Lane695 m
Turn right onto Old Hardenhuish Lane.
Old Hardenhuish Lane303 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Old Hardenhuish Lane.
Old Hardenhuish Lane303 m
Turn left onto Hardenhuish Lane/B4528.
Hardenhuish Lane982 m
Turn right onto Malmesbury Road/B4158.
Malmesbury Road908 m
Turn right onto Wedmore Avenue.
Wedmore Avenue120 m
Turn left onto East Yewstock Crescent.
East Yewstock Crescent279 m
Turn left onto Hardenhuish Avenue.
Hardenhuish Avenue36 m
Keep left to stay on Hardenhuish Avenue.
Hardenhuish Avenue200 m
Turn right onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road729 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road20 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road545 m
Enter Bumpers Farm and take the 2nd exit onto A350/West Cepen Way.
Bumpers Farm47 m
Exit the roundabout onto A350/West Cepen Way.
A350340 m
Keep right to stay on A350/West Cepen Way.
A3501.5 km
Keep right to stay on A350/West Cepen Way.
A350290 m
Enter Cepen Park South and take the 3rd exit onto A350/West Cepen Way.
Cepen Park South143 m
Exit the roundabout onto A350/West Cepen Way.
A3501.8 km
Keep right to stay on A350/West Cepen Way.
A350369 m
Enter Bumpers Farm and take the 2nd exit onto A350/West Cepen Way.
Bumpers Farm52 m
Exit the roundabout onto A350/West Cepen Way.
A350236 m
Enter Brook Roundabout and take the 1st exit.
Brook Roundabout49 m
Exit the roundabout onto A350/West Cepen Way.
A350925 m
Enter Badger Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A350/West Cepen Way.
Badger Roundabout44 m
Exit the roundabout onto A350/West Cepen Way.
A350269 m
Enter Malmesbury Road Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A350/Malmesbury Road.
Malmesbury Road Roundabout37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A350/Malmesbury Road.
A350907 m
Turn right onto Plough Lane.
Plough Lane851 m
Move right onto The Common.
The Common650 m
Keep right to take Church Road.
Church Road185 m
Move right onto Lower Common.
Lower Common263 m
Turn right onto Swindon Road/B4069.
Swindon Road101 m
Keep left to stay on Swindon Road/B4069.
Swindon Road149 m
Keep left to stay on Swindon Road/B4069.
Swindon Road140 m
Keep left to stay on Swindon Road/B4069.
Swindon Road1.6 km
Keep left to stay on B4069.
B4069342 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Pew Hill/B4069.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pew Hill/B4069.
Pew Hill68 m
Keep right to stay on B4069.
B40691.4 km
Move right onto New Road/A420. Continue on A420.
A420305 m
Enter Bridge Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Bath Road/A4.
Bridge Roundabout145 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bath Road/A4. Continue on A4.
A4200 m
Keep right to take Rowden Hill/A4.
Rowden Hill100 m
Keep left to stay on Rowden Hill/A4.
Rowden Hill75 m
Turn right onto Erleigh Drive.
Erleigh Drive166 m
Turn right onto Maur Close.
Maur Close68 m
Move left to stay on Maur Close.
Maur Close28 m
Turn left.
9 m
Make a right U-turn.
9 m
Turn right onto Maur Close.
Maur Close97 m
Turn left onto Erleigh Drive.
Erleigh Drive166 m
Turn left onto Rowden Hill/A4.
Rowden Hill351 m
Turn left onto Bath Road/A4.
Bath Road18 m
Enter Bridge Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Ivy Lane/A420.
Bridge Roundabout51 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ivy Lane/A420. Continue on A420.
A420480 m
Keep left to take Marshfield Road/A420.
Marshfield Road99 m
Make a sharp right onto Park Lane/A420.
Park Lane377 m
Keep right to take New Road.
New Road349 m
Keep left to stay on New Road.
New Road185 m
Turn right onto Bath Road.
Bath Road153 m
Enter Bridge Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Ivy Lane/A420.
Bridge Roundabout139 m
Exit the roundabout onto Ivy Lane/A420.
Ivy Lane479 m
Keep left to stay on A420.
A4201.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road20 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bristol Road/A420.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bristol Road/A420.
Bristol Road545 m
Enter Bumpers Farm and take the 1st exit onto Bumpers Way.
Bumpers Farm9 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bumpers Way.
Bumpers Way449 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Chippenham · 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.
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 Brook Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 7.2 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.
Bumpers Farm
Start near Bumpers Farm.
Cinch
Continue to Cinch.
Brook
Continue to Brook.
St Nicholas School
Continue to St Nicholas School.
St Nicholas
Continue to St Nicholas.
Toolstation
Continue to Toolstation.
Cepen Park South
Continue to Cepen Park South, taking the junction with good observation.
Brook Roundabout
Continue to Brook Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Cepen Park
Continue to Cepen Park.
M&S Simply Food
Continue to M&S Simply Food.
Plymouth Brethren Meeting Hall
Continue to Plymouth Brethren Meeting Hall.
St Peter's
Continue to St Peter's.
Union Chapel
Continue to Union Chapel.
New Inn
Continue to New Inn.
Old Road Tavern
Continue to Old Road Tavern.
Barber Studios
Continue to Barber Studios.
Dentons
Continue to Dentons.
Baptist Church
Continue to Baptist Church.
Salvation Army - Chippenham
Continue to Salvation Army - Chippenham.
Pets at Home
Finish back near Pets at Home, completing the loop.
15 roundabouts · 12 turns · 2 sets of lights
18 roundabouts · 6 turns · 2 sets of lights
12 roundabouts · 8 turns · 2 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 11 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 32.9 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Chippenham test centre, not an official DVSA route.