Near Elgin test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts and 11 turns across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 17.7 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 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, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads, independent driving 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 stations, shops, schools and named junctions, 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 94-step drive on real, named roads (about 17.7 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 left onto Boroughbriggs Road.
Boroughbriggs Road287 m
Turn left onto Haugh Road.
Haugh Road281 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A96309 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
45 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 3rd exit onto A96.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96447 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/South College Street.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/South College Street. Continue on A96.
A96302 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A96.
64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96297 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
38 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 3rd exit onto A96.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96447 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/South College Street.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/South College Street. Continue on A96.
A96302 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96187 m
Turn left onto Pinefield Road.
Pinefield Road131 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Pinefield Road.
Pinefield Road131 m
Turn left onto A96.
A96226 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96245 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.
21 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96580 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Reiket Lane.
81 m
Exit the roundabout onto Reiket Lane.
Reiket Lane83 m
Turn right onto Pine Grove.
Pine Grove160 m
Turn right to stay on Pine Grove.
Pine Grove186 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Pine Grove.
Pine Grove186 m
Turn left to stay on Pine Grove.
Pine Grove160 m
Turn left onto Reiket Lane.
Reiket Lane75 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96587 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96254 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.
7 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96414 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.
27 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96297 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
38 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.
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 2nd exit onto Northfield Terrace/A941.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Terrace/A941. Continue on A941.
A941938 m
Enter Laichmoray Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto New Elgin Road/A941.
Laichmoray Roundabout39 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Elgin Road/A941.
New Elgin Road258 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Linkwood Road.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Linkwood Road.
Linkwood Road930 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Linkwood Road.
97 m
Exit the roundabout onto Linkwood Road.
Linkwood Road928 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto New Elgin Road/A941.
5 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Elgin Road/A941.
New Elgin Road300 m
Turn right onto North Street.
North Street126 m
Turn left onto Convener Street.
Convener Street71 m
Turn left onto Smith Street.
Smith Street96 m
Turn left onto Main Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941422 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto New Elgin Road/A941.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Elgin Road/A941.
New Elgin Road259 m
Enter Laichmoray Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Moss Street.
Laichmoray Roundabout24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moss Street.
Moss Street453 m
Turn left onto Moray Street.
Moray Street403 m
Turn left onto Hay Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941426 m
Turn left onto South Guildry Street.
South Guildry Street379 m
Turn left onto Moray Street.
Moray Street183 m
Turn right onto Hay Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941292 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto High Street.
57 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.
A9627 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Elgin · Route 3 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.
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 Laichmoray Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 7.1 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 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.
Elgin Bus Station
Start near Elgin Bus Station.
Furniture Outlet
Continue to Furniture Outlet.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
Seaforth Highlanders Memorial
Continue to Seaforth Highlanders Memorial.
Highland Motor Parts
Continue to Highland Motor Parts.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
MG
Continue to MG.
Burger King
Continue to Burger King.
Domino's
Continue to Domino's.
Games Hall
Continue to Games Hall.
Speyside Wing
Continue to Speyside Wing.
Laichmoray Roundabout
Continue to Laichmoray Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Moray College UHI - Technology Centre
Continue to Moray College UHI - Technology Centre.
Caberfeidh Bar
Continue to Caberfeidh Bar.
Elgin Baptist Church
Continue to Elgin Baptist Church.
Grange Wing
Continue to Grange Wing.
Mckerron’s
Continue to Mckerron’s.
Elgin and Forres Free Church of Scotland
Continue to Elgin and Forres Free Church of Scotland.
Elgin Mosque
Continue to Elgin Mosque.
River Church
Finish back near River Church, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 16 turns
15 roundabouts · 15 turns
14 turns
9 roundabouts · 17 turns
This route is 17.7 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.