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Practice route
ChallengingLoop

Elgin · Route 6

Near Elgin test centre

17.9 km
Distance
45 min
Duration
Challenging
Difficulty
19
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Demanding

Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 14 roundabouts and 13 turns across 29 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 17.9 km practice loop near Elgin test centre, taking roughly 45 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, named junctions 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 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.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

11
Left turns
2
Right turns
14
Roundabouts
0
Traffic lights
29
Total steps

Skills & features

43
Roundabouts
5.8 km
Dual carriageway
20, 30, 40 mph
Speed limits
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • Dual-carriageway joins
  • 20 mph zones
  • Changing speed limits
  • Residential manoeuvres
  • Busy A-roads
  • Independent driving
  • Sustained concentration

Road mix

  • Trunk roads 5.8 km
  • Minor roads 4.1 km
  • Residential 3.7 km
  • A-roads 2.3 km
  • B-roads 0.4 km
  • Unclassified 0.4 km
  • service_other 0.1 km

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 94-step drive on real, named roads (about 17.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive north on Trinity Road.

    Trinity Road51 m

  2. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Boroughbriggs Road.

    Boroughbriggs Road287 m

  3. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Haugh Road.

    Haugh Road281 m

  4. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    24 m

  5. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    A96309 m

  6. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    45 m

  7. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    A96313 m

  8. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    11 m

  9. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    A96127 m

  10. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/High Street.

    37 m

  11. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/High Street.

    A96339 m

  12. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Pluscarden Road/B9010.

    16 m

  13. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Pluscarden Road/B9010.

    Pluscarden Road429 m

  14. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Wittet Drive.

    Wittet Drive175 m

  15. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Bruceland Road.

    Bruceland Road80 m

  16. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Double Dykes Road.

    Double Dykes Road163 m

  17. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Pluscarden Road/B9010.

    Pluscarden Road95 m

  18. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Wittet Drive.

    Wittet Drive166 m

  19. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Petrie Crescent.

    Petrie Crescent275 m

  20. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Mayne Road.

    Mayne Road201 m

  21. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Wittet Drive.

    Wittet Drive47 m

  22. Turn left:

    Move left onto Wards Road.

    Wards Road983 m

  23. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Station Road/A941.

    Station Road266 m

  24. Roundabout:

    Enter Laichmoray Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto New Elgin Road/A941.

    Laichmoray Roundabout39 m

  25. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto New Elgin Road/A941.

    New Elgin Road258 m

  26. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto New Elgin Road/A941.

    23 m

  27. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto New Elgin Road/A941.

    New Elgin Road300 m

  28. Turn right:

    Turn right onto North Street.

    North Street126 m

  29. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Convener Street.

    Convener Street71 m

  30. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Smith Street.

    Smith Street96 m

  31. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Main Street/A941. Continue on A941.

    A941422 m

  32. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Linkwood Road.

    47 m

  33. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Linkwood Road.

    Linkwood Road930 m

  34. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Reiket Lane.

    7 m

  35. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Reiket Lane.

    Reiket Lane1.0 km

  36. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.

    7 m

  37. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96587 m

  38. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.

    16 m

  39. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96254 m

  40. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.

    7 m

  41. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96414 m

  42. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.

    27 m

  43. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96297 m

  44. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    38 m

  45. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road. Continue on A96.

    A96446 m

  46. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    5 m

  47. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    A9643 m

  48. Turn left:

    Turn left onto St. Giles Road.

    St. Giles Road130 m

  49. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Lossie Wynd.

    Lossie Wynd56 m

  50. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A96.

    A9635 m

  51. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96.

    40 m

  52. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96447 m

  53. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/South College Street.

    17 m

  54. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/South College Street. Continue on A96.

    A96302 m

  55. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.

    26 m

  56. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96414 m

  57. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96.

    48 m

  58. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96229 m

  59. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Victoria Crescent.

    Victoria Crescent182 m

  60. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Victoria Road.

    Victoria Road152 m

  61. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Victoria Road.

    Victoria Road152 m

  62. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Victoria Crescent.

    Victoria Crescent93 m

  63. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Maisondieu Road.

    Maisondieu Road211 m

  64. Turn left:

    Move left.

    18 m

  65. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.

    14 m

  66. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96.

    A96297 m

  67. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Greyfriars Street.

    12 m

  68. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Greyfriars Street.

    Greyfriars Street312 m

  69. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Moss Street.

    Moss Street78 m

  70. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Moray Street.

    Moray Street403 m

  71. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Hay Street/A941. Continue on A941.

    A941426 m

  72. Turn left:

    Turn left onto South Guildry Street.

    South Guildry Street379 m

  73. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Moray Street.

    Moray Street183 m

  74. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Hay Street/A941. Continue on A941.

    A941292 m

  75. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto High Street.

    57 m

  76. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto High Street.

    High Street204 m

  77. Turn right:

    Move right onto Batchen Street.

    Batchen Street131 m

  78. Turn left:

    Turn left onto South Street.

    South Street23 m

  79. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Culbard Street.

    Culbard Street128 m

  80. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Moray Street.

    Moray Street163 m

  81. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Gordon Street.

    Gordon Street149 m

  82. Turn right:

    Turn right onto South Street.

    South Street356 m

  83. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Greyfriars Street.

    Greyfriars Street311 m

  84. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    5 m

  85. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road. Continue on A96.

    A96446 m

  86. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    5 m

  87. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.

    A9643 m

  88. Turn left:

    Turn left onto St. Giles Road.

    St. Giles Road130 m

  89. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Lossie Wynd.

    Lossie Wynd56 m

  90. Turn left:

    Turn left onto A96.

    A9635 m

  91. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Cumming Street/A941.

    22 m

  92. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Cumming Street/A941.

    Cumming Street233 m

  93. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Boroughbriggs Road.

    Boroughbriggs Road210 m

  94. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Elgin · Route 6 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

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.

Junctions & roundabouts

Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.

  • Laichmoray Roundabout

Stations

Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.

  • Elgin Bus Station

Schools

Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.

  • Moray College UHI - Technology Centre
  • Speyside Wing
  • Grange Wing

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • River Church
  • Elgin Mosque

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Caberfeidh Bar
  • Cottar Hoose
  • Against the Grain

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Domino's
  • McDonald's
  • Horizon Blinds
  • St. Giles Shopping Centre

Watch out for

  • 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 5.8 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 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.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Elgin Bus Station

    Start near Elgin Bus Station.

  2. Domino's

    Continue to Domino's.

  3. Elgin Community Fire Station

    Continue to Elgin Community Fire Station.

  4. Laichmoray Roundabout

    Continue to Laichmoray Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  5. Caberfeidh Bar

    Continue to Caberfeidh Bar.

  6. Moray College UHI - Technology Centre

    Continue to Moray College UHI - Technology Centre.

  7. Cottar Hoose

    Continue to Cottar Hoose.

  8. McDonald's

    Continue to McDonald's.

  9. Horizon Blinds

    Continue to Horizon Blinds.

  10. St. Giles Shopping Centre

    Continue to St. Giles Shopping Centre.

  11. Furniture Outlet

    Continue to Furniture Outlet.

  12. Morrisons Daily

    Continue to Morrisons Daily.

  13. Kwik Fit

    Continue to Kwik Fit.

  14. River Church

    Continue to River Church.

  15. Speyside Wing

    Continue to Speyside Wing.

  16. Grange Wing

    Continue to Grange Wing.

  17. Against the Grain

    Continue to Against the Grain.

  18. Elgin Mosque

    Continue to Elgin Mosque.

  19. Docs and Frocks

    Continue to Docs and Frocks.

  20. Halfords

    Finish back near Halfords, completing the loop.

More routes at Elgin test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 17.9 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Elgin test centre, not an official DVSA route.