Near Edinburgh (Musselburgh) test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 13 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 52.6 km practice loop near Edinburgh (Musselburgh) 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 Newcraighall Road. 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 independent driving. 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, schools, 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 Edinburgh (Musselburgh) 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 84-step drive on real, named roads (about 52.6 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive south.
57 m
Turn right.
75 m
Turn right onto Newhailes Road/B6415.
Newhailes Road150 m
Turn left onto Edinburgh Road/A199.
Edinburgh Road62 m
Turn left onto Newhailes Avenue.
Newhailes Avenue179 m
Turn right onto Newhailes Crescent.
Newhailes Crescent247 m
Turn right onto Maitland Park Road.
Maitland Park Road122 m
Turn right onto Edinburgh Road/A199.
Edinburgh Road324 m
Turn right onto Newhailes Road/B6415.
Newhailes Road267 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Newhailes Road/A6095.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Newhailes Road/A6095.
Newhailes Road292 m
Turn left onto Clayknowes Crescent.
Clayknowes Crescent435 m
Turn left onto Clayknowes Avenue.
Clayknowes Avenue178 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Clayknowes Avenue.
Clayknowes Avenue178 m
Turn right onto Clayknowes Crescent.
Clayknowes Crescent166 m
Turn right onto Stoneybank Gardens.
Stoneybank Gardens368 m
Turn right onto Stoneybank Drive.
Stoneybank Drive143 m
Turn right to stay on Stoneybank Drive.
Stoneybank Drive35 m
Turn left to stay on Stoneybank Drive.
Stoneybank Drive126 m
Turn left onto Stoneybank Gardens.
Stoneybank Gardens368 m
Turn right onto Clayknowes Crescent.
Clayknowes Crescent268 m
Turn right onto Newhailes Road/A6095.
Newhailes Road292 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Olive Bank Road/A6095.
60 m
Exit the roundabout onto Olive Bank Road/A6095.
Olive Bank Road541 m
Turn right onto Eskview Terrace/B6415.
Eskview Terrace58 m
Turn right onto Eskview Road.
Eskview Road155 m
Turn left onto Eskview Grove.
Eskview Grove134 m
Turn left onto Eskview Crescent.
Eskview Crescent109 m
Turn left onto Eskview Avenue.
Eskview Avenue206 m
Turn left onto Eskview Road.
Eskview Road75 m
Turn left onto Eskview Grove.
Eskview Grove134 m
Turn left onto Eskview Crescent.
Eskview Crescent207 m
Turn right onto Eskview Terrace/B6415. Continue on B6415.
B64151.2 km
Turn right onto Craighall Avenue.
Craighall Avenue182 m
Turn right onto Craighall Drive.
Craighall Drive336 m
Turn left onto B6415.
B64151.4 km
Turn left onto Olive Bank Road/A6095.
Olive Bank Road542 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Newhailes Road/B6415.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto Newhailes Road/B6415.
Newhailes Road267 m
Turn left onto Edinburgh Road/A199.
Edinburgh Road1.9 km
Turn left onto Coillesdene Drive.
Coillesdene Drive144 m
Turn left onto Coillesdene Avenue.
Coillesdene Avenue281 m
Turn right onto Milton Drive.
Milton Drive156 m
Turn left onto Milton Road East/A199.
Milton Road East240 m
Turn left onto Milton Terrace.
Milton Terrace101 m
Turn left onto Coillesdene Avenue.
Coillesdene Avenue198 m
Turn left onto Milton Drive.
Milton Drive156 m
Turn right onto Milton Road East/A199.
Milton Road East761 m
Turn left onto Milton Link/A1.
Milton Link420 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1.
A15.2 km
Take the A6094 exit towards Wallyford/Dalkeith.
624 m
Turn right onto Salters Road/A6094.
Salters Road1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A6124.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6124.
A61242.1 km
Move left onto B6414.
B64143.3 km
Turn left onto Tranent Road.
Tranent Road226 m
Turn left onto B6414.
B64142.4 km
Turn left.
84 m
Turn left onto Edinburgh Road/A199. Continue on A199.
A1991.5 km
Turn left to take the A1 ramp.
A18.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Milton Link/A1.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto Milton Link/A1.
Milton Link433 m
Turn right onto Milton Road East/A199. Continue on A199.
A1993.2 km
Turn left onto High Street/A199. Continue on A199.
A1991.9 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Linkfield Road/A199.
114 m
Exit the roundabout onto Linkfield Road/A199.
Linkfield Road484 m
Turn left onto Ashgrove.
Ashgrove429 m
Turn left onto Pinkie Road/B6454.
Pinkie Road608 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Linkfield Road/A199.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Linkfield Road/A199. Continue on A199.
A1991.9 km
Turn right to stay on A199.
A199635 m
Turn right onto Lochend Road North.
Lochend Road North115 m
Turn right onto New Street.
New Street350 m
Turn left onto Links View.
Links View85 m
Turn left onto Links Avenue.
Links Avenue129 m
Turn left onto Beach Lane.
Beach Lane89 m
Turn right onto New Street.
New Street604 m
Turn right onto Edinburgh Road/A199.
Edinburgh Road721 m
Move left onto Milton Road East/A199.
Milton Road East39 m
Turn right to stay on Milton Road East/A199.
Milton Road East25 m
Turn right onto Eastfield/B6415.
Eastfield838 m
Turn right onto Newhailes Avenue.
Newhailes Avenue102 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Edinburgh (Musselburgh) · Route 4 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.
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
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 7.8 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.
Newcraighall Road
Start near Newcraighall Road.
Spark of Genius Musselburgh Learning Centre
Continue to Spark of Genius Musselburgh Learning Centre.
Haugh Park
Continue to Haugh Park.
Musselburgh Private Nursery
Continue to Musselburgh Private Nursery.
Eastfield Newsagent General Store
Continue to Eastfield Newsagent General Store.
China Express
Continue to China Express.
Joppa Pans
Continue to Joppa Pans.
Ali & Son Newsagent
Continue to Ali & Son Newsagent.
South Lodge
Continue to South Lodge.
War Memorial
Continue to War Memorial.
Brig Inn
Continue to Brig Inn.
Spar
Continue to Spar.
Primary Colours Hair
Continue to Primary Colours Hair.
Ship Inn
Continue to Ship Inn.
Northesk Parish Church
Continue to Northesk Parish Church.
St Peter's Episcopal Church
Continue to St Peter's Episcopal Church.
Levenhall Arms
Continue to Levenhall Arms.
Anchor Bar
Continue to Anchor Bar.
Hope Hub
Continue to Hope Hub.
Apostolic Church Services
Finish back near Apostolic Church Services, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 7 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 16 turns · 4 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 16 turns · 4 sets of lights
4 roundabouts · 19 turns · 8 sets of lights
This route is 52.6 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Edinburgh (Musselburgh) test centre, not an official DVSA route.