Near Elgin test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts and 17 turns across 28 navigation steps.
This is an independent 35.6 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 and Covesea 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 shops, churches, named junctions and stations, 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 102-step drive on real, named roads (about 35.6 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 right onto Cumming Street/A941.
Cumming Street232 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
29 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. 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 2nd exit onto Northfield Terrace/A941.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Northfield Terrace/A941.
Northfield Terrace141 m
Turn left onto South Street.
South Street430 m
Move right onto Moss Street.
Moss Street532 m
Enter Laichmoray Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Moss Street.
Laichmoray Roundabout61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moss Street.
Moss Street306 m
Turn right onto Institution Road.
Institution Road223 m
Turn right onto Seafield Street.
Seafield Street365 m
Turn left onto Maisondieu Road.
Maisondieu Road413 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 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 3rd exit onto A96/High Street.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/High Street.
A96339 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A96/West Road.
31 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/West Road.
A96296 m
Turn left onto Bruceland Road.
Bruceland Road177 m
Turn left onto Double Dykes Road.
Double Dykes Road163 m
Turn left onto Pluscarden Road/B9010.
Pluscarden Road332 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/High Street.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/High Street.
A96350 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A96121 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A96/Alexandra Road.
52 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96/Alexandra Road.
A96309 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.
20 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.
A96414 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 1st exit onto Moycroft Road.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Moycroft Road.
Moycroft Road310 m
Turn right onto Chanonry Road North.
Chanonry Road North133 m
Turn right onto Chanonry Street.
Chanonry Street160 m
Turn right onto Chanonry Road South.
Chanonry Road South127 m
Turn left onto Moycroft Road.
Moycroft Road147 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96254 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Tyock Industrial Estate.
33 m
Exit the roundabout onto Tyock Industrial Estate.
Tyock Industrial Estate182 m
Turn left to stay on Tyock Industrial Estate.
Tyock Industrial Estate62 m
Turn right to stay on Tyock Industrial Estate.
Tyock Industrial Estate148 m
Turn left to stay on Tyock Industrial Estate.
Tyock Industrial Estate57 m
Turn left onto Grampian Road.
Grampian Road345 m
Turn right onto Newmill Road.
Newmill Road1.2 km
Turn left onto Fraser Avenue.
Fraser Avenue77 m
Turn left onto Reid Street.
Reid Street230 m
Turn right onto Deanshaugh Road.
Deanshaugh Road155 m
Turn right onto Deanshaugh Terrace.
Deanshaugh Terrace390 m
Turn right onto Anderson Crescent.
Anderson Crescent208 m
Turn right onto Reid Street.
Reid Street166 m
Turn right onto Fraser Avenue.
Fraser Avenue167 m
Turn left onto Deanshaugh Terrace.
Deanshaugh Terrace76 m
Turn left onto Christie Road.
Christie Road162 m
Turn left onto Reid Street.
Reid Street383 m
Turn right onto Lesmurdie Road.
Lesmurdie Road476 m
Turn right onto Deanshaugh Road.
Deanshaugh Road87 m
Turn right onto Reid Street.
Reid Street230 m
Turn right onto Fraser Avenue.
Fraser Avenue77 m
Turn left onto Lesmurdie Road.
Lesmurdie Road580 m
Turn right onto North Street/A941.
North Street58 m
Turn left onto Lossiemouth Road.
Lossiemouth Road17 m
Turn left to stay on Lossiemouth Road.
Lossiemouth Road398 m
Turn right onto Covesea Road.
Covesea Road525 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Covesea Road.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Covesea Road.
Covesea Road558 m
Turn right onto North Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941961 m
Turn right onto Boroughbriggs Road.
Boroughbriggs Road210 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Elgin · Route 8 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.
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 5.3 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.
Halfords
Start near Halfords.
St. Giles Shopping Centre
Continue to St. Giles Shopping Centre.
Duffus Parish Church
Continue to Duffus Parish Church.
Elgin Mosque
Continue to Elgin Mosque.
RCCG Jesus House Elgin, The Antioch Church
Continue to RCCG Jesus House Elgin, The Antioch Church.
Laichmoray Roundabout
Continue to Laichmoray Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
St. Sylvester's Church
Continue to St. Sylvester's Church.
Elgin Library
Continue to Elgin Library.
Greggs
Continue to Greggs.
Londis
Continue to Londis.
Tesco
Continue to Tesco.
Elgin Bus Station
Continue to Elgin Bus Station.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
Kwik Fit
Continue to Kwik Fit.
Stagecoach Depot
Continue to Stagecoach Depot.
Oasis Church Elgin
Continue to Oasis Church Elgin.
CJ'S PLAICE
Continue to CJ'S PLAICE.
Budgens
Continue to Budgens.
Covesea Road
Continue to Covesea Road, taking the junction with good observation.
Gleaner Arena
Finish back near Gleaner Arena, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 16 turns
15 roundabouts · 15 turns
14 turns
6 roundabouts · 21 turns
This route is 35.6 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.