Near Dorchester test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 14 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 25 navigation steps.
This is an independent 53.2 km practice route near Dorchester 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 Stadium Roundabout, Fordington Fields Roundabout, Max Gate Roundabout, Weirs Roundabout and Bridport Road and 1 more named junctions. 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, churches, pubs and shops, 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 Dorchester 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 116-step drive on real, named roads (about 53.2 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southeast.
17 m
Turn right onto Peverell Avenue West.
Peverell Avenue West103 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridport Road/B3150.
63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road106 m
Enter Monkey's Jump Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
Monkey's Jump Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
A352.3 km
Enter Stadium Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
Stadium Roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
A352.0 km
Turn right onto A352.
A352259 m
Enter Max Gate Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Alington Avenue/B3144.
Max Gate Roundabout3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Alington Avenue/B3144.
Alington Avenue253 m
Move left.
21 m
Enter Fordington Fields Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Fordington Fields Roundabout25 m
Exit the roundabout.
32 m
Move left onto Alington Road/B3144. Continue on B3144.
B3144322 m
Move right onto Athelstan Road.
Athelstan Road115 m
Turn left onto Kings Road.
Kings Road109 m
Move right onto Prince of Wales Road/B3144.
Prince of Wales Road702 m
Turn left onto South Walks Road/B3144.
South Walks Road16 m
Turn right onto Trinity Street.
Trinity Street346 m
Turn left onto Prince's Street.
Prince's Street247 m
Turn right onto Albert Road/B3147.
Albert Road70 m
Enter Top O'Town Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto The Grove/B3147.
Top O'Town Roundabout27 m
Exit the roundabout onto The Grove/B3147. Continue on B3147.
B31471.7 km
Enter Weirs Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A37/Dorchester Bypass.
Weirs Roundabout6 m
Exit the roundabout onto A37/Dorchester Bypass.
A371.9 km
Enter Monkey's Jump Roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
Monkey's Jump Roundabout70 m
Exit the roundabout.
2.3 km
Turn left onto Weymouth Road/B3159.
Weymouth Road1.0 km
Move left.
174 m
Turn left.
212 m
Move right.
1.7 km
Turn left.
340 m
Turn left onto A354/Monkton Hill.
A3541.1 km
Enter Stadium Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Weymouth Road/B3147.
Stadium Roundabout37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weymouth Road/B3147. Continue on B3147.
B3147244 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Weymouth Avenue/B3147.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weymouth Avenue/B3147.
Weymouth Avenue622 m
Turn left onto Queen's Avenue.
Queen's Avenue763 m
Make a right U-turn at Queen's Avenue to stay on Queen's Avenue.
Queen's Avenue45 m
Turn left to stay on Queen's Avenue.
Queen's Avenue390 m
Turn right onto Clarence Road.
Clarence Road259 m
Turn right onto Maiden Castle Road.
Maiden Castle Road495 m
Turn left onto Celtic Crescent.
Celtic Crescent873 m
Turn right onto Minerva Close.
Minerva Close65 m
Turn right to stay on Minerva Close.
Minerva Close39 m
Turn right to stay on Minerva Close.
Minerva Close17 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Minerva Close.
Minerva Close17 m
Turn left to stay on Minerva Close.
Minerva Close39 m
Turn left to stay on Minerva Close.
Minerva Close65 m
Turn left onto Celtic Crescent.
Celtic Crescent872 m
Turn right onto Maiden Castle Road.
Maiden Castle Road439 m
Turn right onto Britannia Way.
Britannia Way91 m
Turn left onto Roman Road.
Roman Road137 m
Turn left onto Celtic Crescent.
Celtic Crescent155 m
Turn left onto Maiden Castle Road.
Maiden Castle Road159 m
Turn left onto Britannia Way.
Britannia Way91 m
Turn left onto Roman Road.
Roman Road137 m
Turn left onto Celtic Crescent.
Celtic Crescent155 m
Turn left onto Maiden Castle Road.
Maiden Castle Road225 m
Turn right onto Florence Road.
Florence Road76 m
Turn right onto Garfield Avenue.
Garfield Avenue125 m
Turn right onto Clarence Road.
Clarence Road73 m
Turn left onto Maiden Castle Road.
Maiden Castle Road289 m
Turn right onto Weymouth Avenue/B3147.
Weymouth Avenue441 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Weymouth Road/B3147.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weymouth Road/B3147. Continue on B3147.
B3147238 m
Enter Stadium Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
Stadium Roundabout73 m
Exit the roundabout onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
A352.3 km
Enter Monkey's Jump Roundabout and take the 1st exit.
Monkey's Jump Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout.
2.3 km
Turn left onto Weymouth Road/B3159.
Weymouth Road1.3 km
Make a sharp left.
131 m
Turn left.
174 m
Move right onto Weymouth Road/B3159.
Weymouth Road1.0 km
Turn right.
2.2 km
Move left.
29 m
Enter Monkey's Jump Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Monkey's Jump Roundabout70 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road118 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Middle Farm Way/B3150.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Middle Farm Way/B3150.
Middle Farm Way981 m
Turn left.
18 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridport Road/B3150.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road79 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bridport Road/B3150.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Cornwall Road.
Cornwall Road626 m
Turn left onto Upper Fairfield Road.
Upper Fairfield Road75 m
Turn right onto Weymouth Avenue.
Weymouth Avenue882 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Weymouth Road/B3147.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weymouth Road/B3147. Continue on B3147.
B3147238 m
Enter Stadium Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
Stadium Roundabout73 m
Exit the roundabout onto A35/Dorchester Bypass.
A352.3 km
Enter Monkey's Jump Roundabout and take the 1st exit.
Monkey's Jump Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout.
2.3 km
Turn left onto Weymouth Road/B3159.
Weymouth Road1.0 km
Move left.
174 m
Turn left.
212 m
Move right.
1.7 km
Turn left.
340 m
Turn left onto A354/Monkton Hill.
A3541.1 km
Enter Stadium Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Weymouth Road/B3147.
Stadium Roundabout37 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weymouth Road/B3147. Continue on B3147.
B3147244 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Weymouth Avenue/B3147.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Weymouth Avenue/B3147.
Weymouth Avenue1.2 km
Turn right onto Prince of Wales Road/B3144.
Prince of Wales Road304 m
Move left onto York Road.
York Road144 m
Turn left onto Culliford Road North.
Culliford Road North168 m
Turn left onto South Walks Road.
South Walks Road428 m
Turn right onto Trinity Street.
Trinity Street346 m
Turn left onto Prince's Street.
Prince's Street118 m
Turn right onto Alington Street.
Alington Street67 m
Turn right onto High West Street/B3150. Continue on B3150.
B3150954 m
Turn right onto Kings Road/B3143. Continue on Kings Road.
Kings Road673 m
Turn left onto Athelstan Road.
Athelstan Road61 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Dorchester · 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.
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 Stadium Roundabout, Fordington Fields Roundabout, Max Gate Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 13.4 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, 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.
Stadium Roundabout
Start near Stadium Roundabout.
Fordington Fields Roundabout
Continue to Fordington Fields Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Max Gate Roundabout
Continue to Max Gate Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Dorchester Baptist Church
Continue to Dorchester Baptist Church.
Dorchester Trinity Club
Continue to Dorchester Trinity Club.
Brewers
Continue to Brewers.
Weirs Roundabout
Continue to Weirs Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
McDonald's
Continue to McDonald's.
L of a Car
Continue to L of a Car.
Dorchester Middle School
Continue to Dorchester Middle School.
Fortress Green
Continue to Fortress Green.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
Dorchester Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Dorchester Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Bridport Road
Continue to Bridport Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Monkey's Jump Roundabout
Continue to Monkey's Jump Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Sydney Arms
Continue to Sydney Arms.
Brewhouse and Kitchen
Continue to Brewhouse and Kitchen.
All Saints Church
Continue to All Saints Church.
St Peter's Church
Continue to St Peter's Church.
One Stop
Finish back near One Stop, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 12 turns · 4 sets of lights
11 roundabouts · 17 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 14 turns · 3 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 20 turns
This route is 53.2 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Dorchester test centre, not an official DVSA route.