Near Durham (Meadowfield) test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 18 turns and 7 signalled junctions across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 62.0 km practice route near Durham (Meadowfield) 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.
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 schools, churches, shops and pubs, 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 Durham (Meadowfield) 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 109-step drive on real, named roads (about 62.0 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive west.
17 m
Turn right.
15 m
Turn left onto Whitfield Court.
Whitfield Court42 m
Turn left onto St. John's Road.
St. John's Road555 m
Turn left onto Browney Lane/B6300. Continue on B6300.
B63002.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Durham/Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
5 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
A1671.9 km
Enter Cock o' the North and take the 3rd exit towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
Cock o' the North47 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/Durham - Historic Cathedral City/The Oriental Museum/The Botanic Garden.
South Road2.1 km
Turn right towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Hallgarth Street.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hallgarth Street.
Hallgarth Street465 m
Make a sharp left onto Church Street.
Church Street520 m
Turn left towards Bowburn/Coxhoe.
Stockton Road367 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Darlington/City Centre.
101 m
Exit the roundabout towards Darlington/City Centre.
Stockton Road707 m
Move left onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarry Heads Lane22 m
Enter Quarryheads Lane roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarryheads Lane roundabout43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarry Heads Lane418 m
Turn left to stay on Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarry Heads Lane521 m
Turn left onto Crossgate Peth.
Crossgate Peth295 m
Turn right.
97 m
Turn left onto The Avenue.
The Avenue188 m
Turn right onto Farnley Hey Road.
Farnley Hey Road72 m
Turn left onto Farnley Mount.
Farnley Mount140 m
Turn left onto Percy Terrace.
Percy Terrace68 m
Turn right onto A690/Crossgate Peth. Continue on A690.
A690173 m
Turn left onto A167/Darlington Road. Continue on A167.
A1671.5 km
Make a right U-turn towards Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
A1672.1 km
Turn left towards Bearpark/Ushaw College.
Toll House Road2.4 km
Move left onto Linden Road.
Linden Road54 m
Turn right onto Cook Avenue.
Cook Avenue314 m
Turn left.
229 m
Turn left onto South View Terrace.
South View Terrace235 m
Move right onto Auton Stile.
Auton Stile2.4 km
Turn left towards Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
A1671.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A167.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A167286 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
27 m
Exit the roundabout towards Chester-le-Street/Newcastle.
A1671.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Newcastle/The North.
54 m
Exit the roundabout towards Newcastle/The North.
A1672.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto B6312.
8 m
Exit the roundabout onto B6312.
B63121.0 km
Turn left onto Woodland Terrace.
Woodland Terrace30 m
Turn right to stay on Woodland Terrace.
Woodland Terrace159 m
Turn right onto B6312.
B63121.1 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A167.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A1672.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Durham/The South.
98 m
Exit the roundabout towards Durham/The South.
A1671.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A167.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167.
A167293 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A167/Whitesmocks.
101 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167/Whitesmocks. Continue on A167.
A1671.4 km
Turn right towards Bearpark/Ushaw College.
Toll House Road2.4 km
Move left onto Linden Road.
Linden Road756 m
Turn left towards Ushaw Moor/New Brancepeth.
Whitehouse Lane619 m
Turn right towards Esh Winning.
South View136 m
Turn right onto Ushaw Terrace.
Ushaw Terrace245 m
Turn left onto Welby Drive.
Welby Drive54 m
Turn right onto Ladysmith Terrace.
Ladysmith Terrace146 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Ladysmith Terrace.
Ladysmith Terrace146 m
Turn left onto Welby Drive.
Welby Drive54 m
Turn right onto Ushaw Terrace.
Ushaw Terrace245 m
Turn right towards Esh Winning.
B63023.4 km
Turn right.
65 m
Turn left onto Durham Road/B6302. Continue on B6302.
B63023.5 km
Turn right onto Station Road.
Station Road882 m
Turn left.
1.8 km
Turn left towards Brandon.
Pit Lane901 m
Turn right to stay on Pit Lane.
Pit Lane1.2 km
Turn left onto A690.
A690226 m
Turn left.
185 m
Turn right onto Chalfont Way.
Chalfont Way718 m
Turn right onto A690.
A690459 m
Turn left onto Central Avenue.
Central Avenue198 m
Turn left onto Dorlonco Villas.
Dorlonco Villas60 m
Turn right to stay on Dorlonco Villas.
Dorlonco Villas183 m
Turn left onto Browney Lane/B6300.
Browney Lane244 m
Turn right onto A690.
A6902.5 km
Enter Stone Bridge and take the 2nd exit onto Neville's Cross Bank/A690.
Stone Bridge40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Neville's Cross Bank/A690. Continue on A690.
A690348 m
Turn right onto Neville's Cross Villas.
Neville's Cross Villas99 m
Turn left to stay on Neville's Cross Villas.
Neville's Cross Villas9 m
Turn left onto Neville's Cross Bank/A690.
Neville's Cross Bank378 m
Turn left onto Lowes Barn Bank.
Lowes Barn Bank649 m
Turn right onto Potters Close.
Potters Close101 m
Turn left to stay on Potters Close.
Potters Close29 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Potters Close.
Potters Close29 m
Turn right to stay on Potters Close.
Potters Close101 m
Turn right onto Potters Bank.
Potters Bank573 m
Turn right onto Elvet Hill Road.
Elvet Hill Road488 m
Turn left onto South Road/A177.
South Road671 m
Turn left onto Quarryheads Lane.
Quarryheads Lane346 m
Move left onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarry Heads Lane22 m
Enter Quarryheads Lane roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Potters Bank.
Quarryheads Lane roundabout13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Potters Bank.
Potters Bank777 m
Turn left onto Potters Close.
Potters Close101 m
Turn left to stay on Potters Close.
Potters Close29 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Potters Close.
Potters Close29 m
Turn right to stay on Potters Close.
Potters Close101 m
Turn right onto Potters Bank.
Potters Bank781 m
Enter Quarryheads Lane roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarryheads Lane roundabout70 m
Exit the roundabout onto Quarry Heads Lane.
Quarry Heads Lane20 m
Move left onto Quarryheads Lane.
Quarryheads Lane346 m
Turn left onto Church Street Head.
Church Street Head520 m
Make a sharp right onto Hallgarth Street.
Hallgarth Street227 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Durham (Meadowfield) · 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.
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 16.6 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.
Elvet West
Start near Elvet West.
Islamic Prayer Rooms
Continue to Islamic Prayer Rooms.
Palatine Centre
Continue to Palatine Centre.
St Oswald's Church
Continue to St Oswald's Church.
MacLeod House
Continue to MacLeod House.
St John's Neville's Cross
Continue to St John's Neville's Cross.
Sainsbury's Local
Continue to Sainsbury's Local.
Bearpark Methodist Church
Continue to Bearpark Methodist Church.
St Edmund King & Martyr
Continue to St Edmund King & Martyr.
Neville Building
Continue to Neville Building.
Neuva Aesthetics
Continue to Neuva Aesthetics.
Ushaw Moor Baptist Curch
Continue to Ushaw Moor Baptist Curch.
St Luke's Church, Ushaw Moor
Continue to St Luke's Church, Ushaw Moor.
St Catherine
Continue to St Catherine.
Bay Horse by Watson
Continue to Bay Horse by Watson.
St John the Evangelist
Continue to St John the Evangelist.
Family Church Centre
Continue to Family Church Centre.
St Patrick's RC Church
Continue to St Patrick's RC Church.
Al-Qasimi Building
Continue to Al-Qasimi Building.
Professor Dame Rosemary Cramp
Finish back near Professor Dame Rosemary Cramp, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 21 turns · 4 sets of lights
3 roundabouts · 20 turns · 4 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 17 turns · 5 sets of lights
5 roundabouts · 17 turns · 6 sets of lights
This route is 62.0 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Durham (Meadowfield) test centre, not an official DVSA route.