Near Elgin test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts and 21 turns across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 35.2 km practice loop near Elgin 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 Alexandra Road and Laichmoray 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 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, shops, stations and churches, 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 Elgin 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 104-step drive on real, named roads (about 35.2 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north on Trinity Road.
Trinity Road51 m
Turn right onto Boroughbriggs Road.
Boroughbriggs Road122 m
Turn left onto Cumming Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941217 m
Turn right onto Bridge Street.
Bridge Street26 m
Turn right to stay on Bridge Street.
Bridge Street171 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Bridge Street.
Bridge Street171 m
Turn left to stay on Bridge Street.
Bridge Street26 m
Turn left onto North Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941449 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A96232 m
Turn left.
20 m
Turn right onto Ladyhill Road.
Ladyhill Road83 m
Turn left.
25 m
Make a right U-turn.
25 m
Turn right onto Ladyhill Road.
Ladyhill Road76 m
Turn left.
21 m
Turn left onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A9662 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A96309 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Cumming Street/A941.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cumming Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941772 m
Turn left onto Morriston Road/B9012.
Morriston Road210 m
Turn right onto Duffus Road/B9012.
Duffus Road76 m
Turn right onto Spynie Street.
Spynie Street137 m
Turn right to stay on Spynie Street.
Spynie Street528 m
Turn right onto Spynie Road.
Spynie Road85 m
Turn left onto Cameron Road.
Cameron Road50 m
Turn left onto Covesea Road.
Covesea Road200 m
Turn right onto Esmonde Gardens.
Esmonde Gardens120 m
Turn left to stay on Esmonde Gardens.
Esmonde Gardens194 m
Turn right onto Lossiemouth Road.
Lossiemouth Road340 m
Turn left onto Covesea Road.
Covesea Road32 m
Turn left onto North Street/A941.
North Street346 m
Turn right onto Lesmurdie Road.
Lesmurdie Road811 m
Turn right onto Deanshaugh Road.
Deanshaugh Road87 m
Turn right onto Reid Street.
Reid Street537 m
Turn right onto Lesmurdie Road.
Lesmurdie Road246 m
Turn right onto Fraser Avenue.
Fraser Avenue244 m
Turn left onto Deanshaugh Terrace.
Deanshaugh Terrace76 m
Turn left onto Christie Road.
Christie Road162 m
Turn right onto Reid Street.
Reid Street153 m
Turn right onto Deanshaugh Road.
Deanshaugh Road155 m
Turn right onto Deanshaugh Terrace.
Deanshaugh Terrace222 m
Turn right onto Fraser Avenue.
Fraser Avenue244 m
Turn right onto Lesmurdie Road.
Lesmurdie Road1.4 km
Move left.
21 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
25 m
Exit the roundabout.
19 m
Move left onto Maisondieu Road.
Maisondieu Road559 m
Turn right onto Duff Avenue.
Duff Avenue345 m
Turn left onto Institution Road.
Institution Road73 m
Turn left onto Moss Street.
Moss Street307 m
Enter Laichmoray Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Maisondieu Road.
Laichmoray Roundabout7 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maisondieu Road.
Maisondieu Road689 m
Move left.
18 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96297 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Greyfriars Street.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Greyfriars Street.
Greyfriars Street312 m
Turn left onto Moss Street.
Moss Street266 m
Turn right onto Alma Place.
Alma Place204 m
Turn left onto South Guildry Street.
South Guildry Street211 m
Turn left onto Station Road/A941.
Station Road217 m
Enter Laichmoray Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Moss Street.
Laichmoray Roundabout4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moss Street.
Moss Street531 m
Turn right onto Greyfriars Street.
Greyfriars Street311 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road. Continue on A96.
A96446 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cumming Street/A941.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cumming Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941772 m
Turn left onto Morriston Road/B9012.
Morriston Road210 m
Turn right onto Duffus Road/B9012. Continue on B9012.
B90127.4 km
Turn right onto Church Road.
Church Road242 m
Turn right onto Northfield.
Northfield178 m
Turn right.
68 m
Turn right onto Saint Peter's Road.
Saint Peter's Road179 m
Turn left onto Church Road.
Church Road172 m
Turn left onto Hopeman Road/B9012. Continue on B9012.
B90127.4 km
Turn left onto Morriston Road/B9012.
Morriston Road209 m
Turn right onto North Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941770 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A96313 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A96127 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto High Street.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Street.
High Street204 m
Move right onto Batchen Street.
Batchen Street131 m
Turn left onto South Street.
South Street23 m
Turn right onto Culbard Street.
Culbard Street128 m
Turn right onto Moray Street.
Moray Street163 m
Turn right onto Gordon Street.
Gordon Street149 m
Turn right onto South Street.
South Street356 m
Turn left onto Greyfriars Street.
Greyfriars Street311 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road. Continue on A96.
A96446 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A9643 m
Turn left onto St. Giles Road.
St. Giles Road130 m
Turn left onto Lossie Wynd.
Lossie Wynd56 m
Turn left onto A96.
A9635 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cumming Street/A941.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cumming Street/A941.
Cumming Street233 m
Turn left onto Boroughbriggs Road.
Boroughbriggs Road210 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Elgin · Route 1 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.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Laichmoray Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 2.6 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, 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.
Alexandra Road
Start near Alexandra Road.
Tesco
Continue to Tesco.
Elgin Bus Station
Continue to Elgin Bus Station.
Scotmid
Continue to Scotmid.
Budgens
Continue to Budgens.
CJ'S PLAICE
Continue to CJ'S PLAICE.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
Laichmoray Roundabout
Continue to Laichmoray Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
St. Sylvester's Church
Continue to St. Sylvester's Church.
Convent Rose Garden
Continue to Convent Rose Garden.
Autosave
Continue to Autosave.
River Church
Continue to River Church.
Elgin Museum
Continue to Elgin Museum.
Furniture Outlet
Continue to Furniture Outlet.
Duffus Parish Church
Continue to Duffus Parish Church.
Elgin and Forres Free Church of Scotland
Continue to Elgin and Forres Free Church of Scotland.
Elgin Mosque
Continue to Elgin Mosque.
Crafted in Moray
Continue to Crafted in Moray.
Sound and Vision
Continue to Sound and Vision.
Gleaner Arena
Finish back near Gleaner Arena, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 16 turns
15 roundabouts · 15 turns
14 turns
9 roundabouts · 17 turns
This route is 35.2 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Elgin test centre, not an official DVSA route.