Near Darlington test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts, 12 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 77.9 km practice route near Darlington 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 Swan House Roundabout, Blands Corner and Little Burdon 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, 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, stations 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 Darlington 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 140-step drive on real, named roads (about 77.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northwest.
236 m
Turn left.
36 m
Turn left onto Yarm Road/B6280.
Yarm Road650 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Yarm Road/B6280.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yarm Road/B6280.
Yarm Road973 m
Turn right onto The Mead.
The Mead291 m
Turn left onto Yarm Road/B6280.
Yarm Road1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto McMullen Road.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto McMullen Road.
McMullen Road1.7 km
Turn right onto Haughton Road.
Haughton Road226 m
Turn left onto Salters Lane South.
Salters Lane South1.2 km
Turn left onto Salters Lane North/A1150.
Salters Lane North1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Durham.
39 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham.
A1673.8 km
Enter Aycliffe Interchange and take the 2nd exit towards A167/Newton Aycliffe.
Aycliffe Interchange178 m
Exit the roundabout towards A167/Newton Aycliffe.
A167580 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto St. Andrews Way/B6444.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto St. Andrews Way/B6444.
St. Andrews Way553 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto St. Andrews Way/B6444.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto St. Andrews Way/B6444.
St. Andrews Way524 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto B6444.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto B6444.
B6444425 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Heighington Lane/B6444.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Heighington Lane/B6444.
Heighington Lane486 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Heighington Lane/B6444.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Heighington Lane/B6444.
Heighington Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto New Lane.
New Lane536 m
Turn left onto School Aycliffe Lane.
School Aycliffe Lane368 m
Turn left to stay on School Aycliffe Lane.
School Aycliffe Lane13 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6072.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6072.
A60722.6 km
Enter Swan House Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A68/West Auckland Road.
Swan House Roundabout32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A68/West Auckland Road.
A681.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A68/West Auckland Road.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A68/West Auckland Road.
A68591 m
Keep left to take Burtree Lane.
Burtree Lane2.4 km
Turn left to stay on Burtree Lane.
Burtree Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto North Road/A167.
North Road334 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Salters Lane North/A1150.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Salters Lane North/A1150. Continue on A1150.
A11502.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Haughton Le Skerne.
78 m
Exit the roundabout towards Haughton Le Skerne.
Stockton Road36 m
Move left onto Haughton Road.
Haughton Road1.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Town centre.
88 m
Exit the roundabout towards Town centre.
B6279990 m
Enter Freeman's Place Roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Northallerton/Barnard Castle/Yarm/A1(M) South.
Freeman's Place Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout towards Northallerton/Barnard Castle/Yarm/A1(M) South.
A167575 m
Enter Feethams Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto St Cuthberts Way/A167.
Feethams Roundabout173 m
Exit the roundabout onto St Cuthberts Way/A167.
St Cuthberts Way799 m
Enter Northgate Roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bishop Auckland.
Northgate Roundabout60 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bishop Auckland.
St Augustines Way319 m
Enter Bondgate roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bishop Auckland.
Bondgate roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bishop Auckland.
A681.1 km
Turn left onto Pierremont Crescent.
Pierremont Crescent332 m
Turn left onto Milbank Road.
Milbank Road156 m
Turn right onto Milbank Crescent.
Milbank Crescent87 m
Turn right onto Dale Road.
Dale Road160 m
Turn left onto Elton Road.
Elton Road279 m
Turn right onto Abbey Road.
Abbey Road310 m
Turn left onto Carmel Road North/B6280.
Carmel Road North661 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Yarm/Teesside/A1M(S).
49 m
Exit the roundabout towards Yarm/Teesside/A1M(S).
Carmel Road South1.2 km
Enter Blands Corner and take the 2nd exit towards Yarm/Teesside.
Blands Corner37 m
Exit the roundabout towards Yarm/Teesside.
A662.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Neasham Road.
89 m
Exit the roundabout onto Neasham Road.
Neasham Road131 m
Turn right onto Roundhill Road.
Roundhill Road2.0 km
Turn left onto Westfield Drive.
Westfield Drive362 m
Turn left onto Dale Close.
Dale Close38 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Dale Close.
Dale Close38 m
Turn right onto Westfield Drive.
Westfield Drive361 m
Turn right onto Roundhill Road.
Roundhill Road2.0 km
Turn left onto Neasham Road.
Neasham Road130 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards The South/Scotch Corner.
5 m
Exit the roundabout towards The South/Scotch Corner.
A662.5 km
Enter Blands Corner and take the 4th exit towards Barnard Castle/Bishop Auckland.
Blands Corner100 m
Exit the roundabout towards Barnard Castle/Bishop Auckland.
Carmel Road South1.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A1M(N).
39 m
Exit the roundabout towards A1M(N).
Carmel Road North661 m
Turn right onto Abbey Road.
Abbey Road310 m
Turn left onto Elton Road.
Elton Road366 m
Turn right onto Milbank Road.
Milbank Road534 m
Turn right towards Town Centre.
A68541 m
Enter Bondgate roundabout and take the 1st exit onto St Augustines Way/A68.
Bondgate roundabout4 m
Exit the roundabout onto St Augustines Way/A68.
St Augustines Way334 m
Enter Northgate Roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Durham/A1M(N).
Northgate Roundabout23 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/A1M(N).
A167874 m
Turn right onto Albert Road.
Albert Road707 m
Turn right onto Cleveland Street.
Cleveland Street431 m
Turn right onto Barton Street.
Barton Street81 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Town centre.
111 m
Exit the roundabout towards Town centre.
B6279990 m
Enter Freeman's Place Roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Durham/Bishop Auckland/A1M(N).
Freeman's Place Roundabout45 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Bishop Auckland/A1M(N).
St Cuthberts Way221 m
Enter Northgate Roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bishop Auckland.
Northgate Roundabout60 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bishop Auckland.
St Augustines Way319 m
Enter Bondgate roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Bishop Auckland.
Bondgate roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout towards Bishop Auckland.
A68543 m
Turn left onto Milbank Road.
Milbank Road876 m
Turn left onto Carmel Road North/B6280.
Carmel Road North1.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Yarm/Teesside/A1M(S).
49 m
Exit the roundabout towards Yarm/Teesside/A1M(S).
Carmel Road South439 m
Turn left onto Ravensdale Road.
Ravensdale Road311 m
Turn right onto Woodcrest Road.
Woodcrest Road238 m
Turn right onto Hartford Road.
Hartford Road95 m
Turn right onto Blackwell Lane.
Blackwell Lane174 m
Turn right onto Glenfield Road.
Glenfield Road161 m
Turn right onto Ravensdale Road.
Ravensdale Road80 m
Turn right onto Woodcrest Road.
Woodcrest Road238 m
Turn right onto Hartford Road.
Hartford Road95 m
Turn right onto Blackwell Lane.
Blackwell Lane474 m
Move right to stay on Blackwell Lane.
Blackwell Lane32 m
Turn right onto Carmel Road South/A67.
Carmel Road South571 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit towards Yarm/Teesside/A1M(S).
89 m
Exit the roundabout towards Yarm/Teesside/A1M(S).
Carmel Road South1.2 km
Enter Blands Corner and take the 2nd exit towards Yarm/Teesside.
Blands Corner37 m
Exit the roundabout towards Yarm/Teesside.
A662.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Teesside.
48 m
Exit the roundabout towards Teesside.
A662.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards The North/Teesside/Durham.
46 m
Exit the roundabout towards The North/Teesside/Durham.
A661.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A66.
67 m
Exit the roundabout onto A66.
A661.1 km
Enter Little Burdon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards The South/Scotch Corner.
Little Burdon Roundabout121 m
Exit the roundabout towards The South/Scotch Corner.
A661.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A66 South.
71 m
Exit the roundabout towards A66 South.
A661.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards The South/Scotch Corner.
42 m
Exit the roundabout towards The South/Scotch Corner.
A662.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Darlington.
89 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington.
Neasham Road629 m
Turn right onto Brankin Road.
Brankin Road127 m
Turn left onto Neasham Drive.
Neasham Drive73 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Neasham Drive.
Neasham Drive73 m
Turn right onto Brankin Road.
Brankin Road127 m
Turn right onto Neasham Road.
Neasham Road261 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Geneva Road.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Geneva Road.
Geneva Road1.6 km
Turn left onto Yarm Road/B6280.
Yarm Road29 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Darlington · Route 5 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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Swan House Roundabout, Little Burdon Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 18.9 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 (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.
St Herbert's Church
Start near St Herbert's Church.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
St Andrew's Church
Continue to St Andrew's Church.
Harrowgate Hill Working Mens Club
Continue to Harrowgate Hill Working Mens Club.
Foresters Arms
Continue to Foresters Arms.
Heighington
Continue to Heighington.
Swan House Roundabout
Continue to Swan House Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Kimberley Caravans
Continue to Kimberley Caravans.
Elmcroft
Continue to Elmcroft.
Grey Horse
Continue to Grey Horse.
Atisha Kapadampa Meditation Centre
Continue to Atisha Kapadampa Meditation Centre.
Holy Trinity
Continue to Holy Trinity.
Blackwell Store
Continue to Blackwell Store.
Blands Corner
Continue to Blands Corner, taking the junction with good observation.
One & Only Salon
Continue to One & Only Salon.
St James the Great
Continue to St James the Great.
Danesmoor House Day Nursery
Continue to Danesmoor House Day Nursery.
All Saints' Church, Blackwell
Continue to All Saints' Church, Blackwell.
Little Burdon Roundabout
Continue to Little Burdon Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Geneva Road Evangelical Baptist Church
Finish back near Geneva Road Evangelical Baptist Church, completing the loop.
12 roundabouts · 10 turns · 3 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 10 turns · 2 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 10 turns · 3 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 10 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 77.9 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Darlington test centre, not an official DVSA route.