Near Hereford test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 18 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 26 navigation steps.
This is an independent 17.5 km practice route near Hereford test centre, taking roughly 35 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 Holmer 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 roundabout approach & exit, dual-carriageway joins, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads 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 19 catalogued landmarks, including shops, pubs, named junctions and schools, 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 Hereford 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 62-step drive on real, named roads (about 17.4 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive east.
32 m
Turn right onto Faraday Road.
Faraday Road17 m
Turn left to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road55 m
Keep right to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road
Keep right to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road61 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road515 m
Turn left onto Yazor Road.
Yazor Road667 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
70 m
Exit the roundabout onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road38 m
Keep left to stay on Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road601 m
Turn left onto Bonington Drive.
Bonington Drive375 m
Turn left onto Hillary Drive.
Hillary Drive56 m
Turn right to stay on Hillary Drive.
Hillary Drive222 m
Turn left onto A438/King's Acre Road.
A438165 m
Turn left onto Ferndale Road.
Ferndale Road346 m
Turn left onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road929 m
Keep right to stay on Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road206 m
Take the exit on the right.
74 m
Move right onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road914 m
Turn right.
13 m
Move right.
51 m
Turn left onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road1.1 km
Turn left onto Tillington Road.
Tillington Road387 m
Make a sharp left onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road249 m
Take the exit on the right.
74 m
Move right onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road1.5 km
Enter Holmer Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Roman Road/A4103.
Holmer Roundabout29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Roman Road/A4103.
Roman Road554 m
Turn right onto Old School Lane.
Old School Lane749 m
Move right onto College Road.
College Road569 m
Turn right onto Kingsway.
Kingsway793 m
Turn right to stay on Kingsway.
Kingsway32 m
Make a sharp left onto Old School Lane.
Old School Lane40 m
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway820 m
Turn left onto College Road.
College Road309 m
Turn left onto College Green.
College Green111 m
Turn left onto Queensway.
Queensway313 m
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway93 m
Turn right onto College Road.
College Road28 m
Turn right to stay on College Road.
College Road205 m
Turn left onto Widemarsh Street.
Widemarsh Street106 m
Turn right onto Newtown Road/B4359.
Newtown Road92 m
Keep right to stay on Newtown Road/B4359.
Newtown Road85 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Newtown Road.
A4930 m
Move left to stay on Newtown Road.
Newtown Road69 m
Turn left onto Millbrook Street.
Millbrook Street75 m
Keep right to stay on Millbrook Street.
Millbrook Street48 m
Turn left onto Nolan Road.
Nolan Road105 m
Turn left onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49109 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Newtown Road. Continue on A49.
A49484 m
Move right onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road968 m
Keep left to stay on Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road75 m
Turn right onto Highmore Street.
Highmore Street471 m
Turn left onto Lyde Street.
Lyde Street79 m
Turn left onto Westfield Street.
Westfield Street207 m
Keep left to stay on Westfield Street.
Westfield Street80 m
Turn left onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road416 m
Keep right to stay on Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road31 m
Turn right onto Yazor Road.
Yazor Road395 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Hereford · Route 12 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.
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 Holmer Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 0.8 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.
Navigate by these 19 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.
Euro Car Parts
Start near Euro Car Parts.
Metal Work Supplies
Continue to Metal Work Supplies.
Bargain Booze
Continue to Bargain Booze.
Co-op Food
Continue to Co-op Food.
Heggies
Continue to Heggies.
Memorial Cross
Continue to Memorial Cross.
Yazor Store
Continue to Yazor Store.
Three Elms
Continue to Three Elms.
Family Shopper
Continue to Family Shopper.
Holmer Roundabout
Continue to Holmer Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Welcome Fish Bar
Continue to Welcome Fish Bar.
Golden Lion
Continue to Golden Lion.
Screwfix
Continue to Screwfix.
Brookfield School
Continue to Brookfield School.
Hereford City Sports Club
Continue to Hereford City Sports Club.
St Mary
Continue to St Mary.
Grandstand
Continue to Grandstand.
Edwards Plaice
Continue to Edwards Plaice.
One Stop
Finish back near One Stop, completing the loop.
8 roundabouts · 17 turns · 4 sets of lights
8 roundabouts · 24 turns · 2 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 13 turns · 5 sets of lights
10 roundabouts · 16 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 17.5 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Hereford test centre, not an official DVSA route.