Near Elgin test centre
Rated easy from its real manoeuvre load, 14 turns across 17 navigation steps.
This is an independent 52.4 km practice loop near Elgin test centre, taking roughly 20 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, stations, shops and parks, 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 135-step drive on real, named roads (about 55.6 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.
A96232 m
Turn left.
20 m
Turn right onto Ladyhill Road.
Ladyhill Road94 m
Move left.
23 m
Make a right U-turn onto Ladyhill Road.
Ladyhill Road110 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.
A9686 m
Keep right to stay on A96/Alexandra Road.
A96105 m
Keep right to stay on A96/Alexandra Road.
A96117 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.
A941696 m
Keep straight to take North Street/A941.
North Street75 m
Turn left onto Morriston Road/B9012.
Morriston Road209 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 right onto North Street/A941.
North Street101 m
Keep left to stay on North Street/A941.
North Street231 m
Keep right to stay on North Street/A941.
North Street479 m
Keep right to stay on A941.
A941380 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A9662 m
Keep right to stay on A96.
A96384 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Greyfriars Street.
49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Greyfriars Street.
Greyfriars Street312 m
Turn left onto Moss Street.
Moss Street531 m
Enter Laichmoray Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto New Elgin Road/A941.
Laichmoray Roundabout24 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Elgin Road/A941.
New Elgin Road258 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto New Elgin Road/A941.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Elgin Road/A941. Continue on A941.
A941381 m
Turn left onto School Brae.
School Brae64 m
Turn right onto Bezack Street.
Bezack Street281 m
Turn right onto Croft Road.
Croft Road67 m
Turn right onto Main Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941661 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 3rd exit onto Maisondieu Road.
Laichmoray Roundabout42 m
Exit the roundabout onto Maisondieu Road.
Maisondieu Road689 m
Move left.
18 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Pansport Road.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pansport Road.
Pansport Road589 m
Keep left to take Newmill Road.
Newmill Road1.4 km
Turn right onto North Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A9411.2 km
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941119 m
Keep straight to stay on A941.
A941793 m
Keep right to stay on A941.
A9414.3 km
Move left onto School Brae.
School Brae172 m
Turn right onto Prospect Terrace.
Prospect Terrace545 m
Turn left onto Dunbar Street.
Dunbar Street82 m
Turn left onto King Street.
King Street102 m
Turn right onto Prospect Terrace.
Prospect Terrace417 m
Turn left onto School Brae.
School Brae4.5 km
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941135 m
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941872 m
Keep right to stay on A941.
A941932 m
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941154 m
Turn left onto Lesmurdie Road.
Lesmurdie Road1.7 km
Turn right onto North College Street.
North College Street211 m
Turn left onto King Street.
King Street174 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on King Street.
King Street174 m
Turn right onto North College Street.
North College Street211 m
Turn left onto Newmill Road.
Newmill Road363 m
Keep left to stay on Newmill Road.
Newmill Road1.4 km
Turn right onto North Street/A941. Continue on A941.
A941250 m
Keep right to stay on A941.
A941918 m
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941119 m
Keep straight to stay on A941.
A941793 m
Keep right to stay on A941.
A9414.3 km
Move left onto School Brae.
School Brae172 m
Move left onto St Gerardine's Road.
St Gerardine's Road391 m
Turn right onto James Street.
James Street119 m
Keep left to stay on James Street.
James Street114 m
Keep left to stay on James Street.
James Street117 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street123 m
Turn left onto Queen Street/B9040. Continue on B9040.
B9040484 m
Turn left onto St Gerardine's Road.
St Gerardine's Road511 m
Move right onto School Brae.
School Brae4.5 km
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941135 m
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941872 m
Keep right to stay on A941.
A9411.1 km
Keep left to take North Street/A941.
North Street322 m
Keep left to stay on A941.
A9411.2 km
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 Street417 m
Turn right onto Commerce Street.
Commerce Street100 m
Move left onto South Street.
South Street23 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.
A96313 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 2nd exit onto A96.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96446 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Queen Street.
44 m
Exit the roundabout onto Queen Street.
Queen Street145 m
Turn right onto Institution Road.
Institution Road76 m
Turn left onto Seafield Street.
Seafield Street365 m
Turn left onto Maisondieu Road.
Maisondieu Road413 m
Move left.
18 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Pansport Road.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pansport Road.
Pansport Road588 m
Keep left to take Newmill Road.
Newmill Road130 m
Turn right onto Woodside Terrace.
Woodside Terrace287 m
Turn right onto Leuchars Drive.
Leuchars Drive99 m
Turn right onto Riverside Drive.
Riverside Drive270 m
Turn right onto Newmill Road.
Newmill Road161 m
Turn right onto Woodside Terrace.
Woodside Terrace270 m
Turn right onto Leuchars Drive.
Leuchars Drive99 m
Turn right onto Riverside Drive.
Riverside Drive270 m
Turn right onto Newmill Road.
Newmill Road161 m
Turn left onto Woodside Terrace.
Woodside Terrace17 m
Turn right onto Newmill Road.
Newmill Road1.2 km
Turn left onto North Street/A941.
North Street381 m
Keep left to stay on A941.
A941924 m
Turn right onto Boroughbriggs Road.
Boroughbriggs Road210 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Elgin · Route 9 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.
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 2.8 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, 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.
Elgin Bus Station
Continue to Elgin Bus Station.
Halfords
Continue to Halfords.
Convent Rose Garden
Continue to Convent Rose Garden.
Laichmoray Roundabout
Continue to Laichmoray Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
River Church
Continue to River Church.
Elgin Autos
Continue to Elgin Autos.
Morrisons Daily
Continue to Morrisons Daily.
Budgens
Continue to Budgens.
James Ramsey Mac Donald Plaque
Continue to James Ramsey Mac Donald Plaque.
St. James' Church
Continue to St. James' Church.
CJ'S PLAICE
Continue to CJ'S PLAICE.
Elgin Cathedral
Continue to Elgin Cathedral.
Lossiemouth United Free Church
Continue to Lossiemouth United Free Church.
St. Columba's Catholic Church
Continue to St. Columba's Catholic Church.
St. Gerardine's High Church
Continue to St. Gerardine's High Church.
Dicey Rileys
Continue to Dicey Rileys.
Mckerron’s
Continue to Mckerron’s.
Thunderton House
Continue to Thunderton House.
Gleaner Arena
Finish back near Gleaner Arena, completing the loop.
2 roundabouts · 16 turns
15 roundabouts · 15 turns
9 roundabouts · 17 turns
6 roundabouts · 21 turns
This route is 52.4 km and takes about 20 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Elgin test centre, not an official DVSA route.