Near Dorchester test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 16 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 43.8 km practice route near Dorchester 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 Stadium Roundabout, Fordington Fields Roundabout, Bridport Road and Monkey's Jump 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, pubs, parks 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 120-step drive on real, named roads (about 43.8 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
Move left onto Albert Road/B3147.
Albert Road106 m
Turn left onto Cornwall Road/B3147.
Cornwall Road275 m
Turn left onto Great Western Road/B3144.
Great Western Road233 m
Turn left onto Weymouth Avenue/B3144. Continue on B3144.
B314439 m
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 right onto South Walks Road.
South Walks Road31 m
Turn left.
14 m
Make a sharp right.
52 m
Turn right onto Icen Way.
Icen Way13 m
Move left onto South Walks Road.
South Walks Road48 m
Turn left onto Culliford Road North.
Culliford Road North404 m
Turn right onto Monmouth Road.
Monmouth Road328 m
Turn left onto Rothesay Road.
Rothesay Road120 m
Turn left onto South Court Avenue.
South Court Avenue248 m
Turn right onto Manor Road.
Manor Road733 m
Turn right onto Herringston Road.
Herringston Road314 m
Turn right.
32 m
Turn left onto Maumbury Road.
Maumbury Road32 m
Turn left onto Herringston Road.
Herringston Road515 m
Turn left onto Mellstock Avenue.
Mellstock Avenue644 m
Turn left onto Rothesay Road.
Rothesay Road436 m
Turn right onto South Court Avenue.
South Court Avenue248 m
Turn right onto Manor Road.
Manor Road284 m
Turn right onto Rothesay Road.
Rothesay Road146 m
Turn left onto South Court Avenue.
South Court Avenue175 m
Move right onto Maumbury Road.
Maumbury Road681 m
Move left onto Damers Road/B3144.
Damers Road976 m
Move left onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road208 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bridport Road/B3150.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road77 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Middle Farm Way/B3150.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Middle Farm Way/B3150.
Middle Farm Way1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bridport Road/B3150.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road106 m
Enter Monkey's Jump Roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
Monkey's Jump Roundabout37 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 Avenue445 m
Turn left onto Maiden Castle Road.
Maiden Castle Road411 m
Turn right onto Florence Road.
Florence Road76 m
Turn right onto Garfield Avenue.
Garfield Avenue125 m
Turn left onto Clarence Road.
Clarence Road591 m
Turn left onto Damers Road/B3144.
Damers Road641 m
Move left onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road208 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Middlemarsh Street.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Middlemarsh Street.
Middlemarsh Street48 m
Turn left.
65 m
Make a right U-turn.
65 m
Turn right onto Middlemarsh Street.
Middlemarsh Street48 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridport Road/B3150.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridport Road/B3150.
Bridport Road207 m
Move right onto Damers Road/B3144. Continue on B3144.
B31441.2 km
Turn right onto Weymouth Avenue.
Weymouth Avenue1.2 km
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. Continue on Weymouth Avenue.
Weymouth Avenue1.2 km
Turn left onto Trinity Street.
Trinity Street408 m
Turn left onto High West Street/B3150.
High West Street119 m
Turn left onto Alington Street.
Alington Street67 m
Turn left onto Prince's Street.
Prince's Street118 m
Turn left onto Trinity Street.
Trinity Street62 m
Turn right onto High West Street/B3150. Continue on B3150.
B3150835 m
Turn right onto Kings Road/B3143.
Kings Road233 m
Turn right onto Mill Street.
Mill Street18 m
Turn left onto Holloway Road.
Holloway Road373 m
Move right onto High Street Fordington.
High Street Fordington144 m
Turn right to stay on High Street Fordington.
High Street Fordington29 m
Turn left onto High East Street/B3150. Continue on B3150.
B3150491 m
Turn left onto Alington Street.
Alington Street67 m
Turn left onto Prince's Street.
Prince's Street118 m
Turn left onto Trinity Street.
Trinity Street62 m
Turn right onto High West Street/B3150. Continue on B3150.
B3150196 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street370 m
Turn left onto South Walks Road.
South Walks Road191 m
Turn right onto Culliford Road North.
Culliford Road North159 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Dorchester · 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.
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, Monkey's Jump Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 9.0 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.
Convivial Rabbit
Continue to Convivial Rabbit.
Dorchester Trinity Club
Continue to Dorchester Trinity Club.
Baptist Church Garden
Continue to Baptist Church Garden.
Baker's Arms
Continue to Baker's Arms.
Ruby House
Continue to Ruby House.
Dorchester West
Continue to Dorchester West.
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.
L of a Car
Continue to L of a Car.
Storehouse Church
Continue to Storehouse Church.
Victoria Hotel
Continue to Victoria Hotel.
Brewhouse and Kitchen
Continue to Brewhouse and Kitchen.
Dorchester Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Dorchester Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Dorchester Market
Continue to Dorchester Market.
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Continue to Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
St Peter's Church
Continue to St Peter's Church.
All Saints Church
Continue to All Saints Church.
Blue Raddle
Finish back near Blue Raddle, 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 43.8 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Dorchester test centre, not an official DVSA route.