Near Hereford test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts, 17 turns and 1 signalled junction across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 35.4 km practice loop near Hereford 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 Westfaling Street and 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 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 shops, churches, pubs 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 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 150-step drive on real, named roads (about 36.1 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 2nd exit onto Wordsworth Road.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wordsworth Road.
Wordsworth Road304 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Westfaling Street.
19 m
Exit the roundabout onto Westfaling Street.
Westfaling Street227 m
Turn left onto Emlyn Avenue.
Emlyn Avenue312 m
Turn left onto Macaulay Avenue.
Macaulay Avenue64 m
Turn left onto Marlowe Drive.
Marlowe Drive121 m
Turn left onto Wordsworth Road.
Wordsworth Road60 m
Turn right onto Rankin Road.
Rankin Road102 m
Turn left onto Langland Drive.
Langland Drive219 m
Turn left onto Westfaling Street.
Westfaling Street153 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Westfaling Street.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Westfaling Street.
Westfaling Street1.3 km
Move left onto Barton Road.
Barton Road509 m
Turn left onto Berrington Street.
Berrington Street94 m
Keep right to stay on Berrington Street.
Berrington Street94 m
Turn right onto West Street.
West Street118 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street164 m
Turn right onto King Street.
King Street117 m
Turn right onto St Nicholas Street.
St Nicholas Street544 m
Move right onto Breinton Road.
Breinton Road298 m
Keep right to take Westfaling Street.
Westfaling Street1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Wordsworth Road.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Wordsworth Road.
Wordsworth Road68 m
Keep left to stay on Wordsworth Road.
Wordsworth Road235 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Yazor Road.
41 m
Exit the roundabout onto Yazor Road.
Yazor Road792 m
Turn right onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road832 m
Move left onto Priory Place.
Priory Place100 m
Turn left onto A49/Holmer Road.
A49555 m
Keep straight to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A4965 m
Turn right.
24 m
Turn right.
23 m
Turn left onto A49/Holmer Road.
A4943 m
Keep left to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A49567 m
Turn right onto Priory Place.
Priory Place100 m
Move right onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road838 m
Turn left onto Yazor Road.
Yazor Road791 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A438/Whitecross Road.
4 m
Exit the roundabout onto A438/Whitecross Road. Continue on A438.
A4381.5 km
Move left onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49103 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A49/Victoria Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout154 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Victoria Street.
A4940 m
Move left to stay on A49/Victoria Street.
A49152 m
Turn left onto West Street.
West Street203 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street164 m
Turn right onto King Street.
King Street117 m
Turn right onto St Nicholas Street.
St Nicholas Street112 m
Turn right onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49427 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout17 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49295 m
Keep right to stay on A49/Edgar Street.
A49133 m
Turn left onto Moor Street.
Moor Street122 m
Move left.
7 m
Make a right U-turn.
7 m
Move right onto Moor Street.
Moor Street122 m
Turn right onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49406 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A49/Victoria Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout85 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Victoria Street.
A4940 m
Take the exit on the right.
92 m
Turn right onto A438/Eign Street.
A43865 m
Keep right to stay on A438.
A4381.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road625 m
Keep left to stay on Three Elms Road/A4110.
Three Elms Road826 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 Road1.5 km
Enter Holmer Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A49/Holmer Road.
Holmer Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Holmer Road.
A49159 m
Keep left to stay on A49/Holmer Road.
A49849 m
Turn left onto A49/Holmer Road. Continue on A49.
A49382 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
52 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49718 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A49/Victoria Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout85 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Victoria Street.
A4940 m
Move left to stay on A49/Victoria Street.
A49152 m
Turn left onto West Street.
West Street203 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street164 m
Turn right onto King Street.
King Street117 m
Turn right onto St Nicholas Street.
St Nicholas Street112 m
Turn right onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49427 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout17 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49295 m
Keep right to stay on A49/Edgar Street.
A49223 m
Turn right onto A465/City Link Road.
A465205 m
Turn left onto Widemarsh Street/B4359.
Widemarsh Street110 m
Turn right to stay on Widemarsh Street.
Widemarsh Street19 m
Keep straight to stay on Widemarsh Street.
Widemarsh Street42 m
Turn left to stay on Widemarsh Street.
Widemarsh Street44 m
Turn right onto College Road.
College Road205 m
Turn left to stay on College Road.
College Road598 m
Move left onto Old School Lane.
Old School Lane53 m
Keep right to stay on Old School Lane.
Old School Lane186 m
Move left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway826 m
Turn right onto College Road.
College Road28 m
Turn right to stay on College Road.
College Road34 m
Keep right to stay on College Road.
College Road170 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 1st exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49720 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A49/Victoria Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout85 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Victoria Street.
A4940 m
Move left to stay on A49/Victoria Street.
A49152 m
Turn left onto West Street.
West Street203 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street164 m
Turn right onto King Street.
King Street117 m
Turn right onto St Nicholas Street.
St Nicholas Street112 m
Turn right onto A49/Victoria Street.
A49427 m
Enter Edgar Street Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Edgar Street.
Edgar Street Roundabout17 m
Exit the roundabout onto A49/Edgar Street.
A49295 m
Keep right to stay on A49/Edgar Street.
A49449 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A49/Newtown Road.
1 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.
A49384 m
Turn left onto Priory Place.
Priory Place100 m
Move right onto Grandstand Road.
Grandstand Road967 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 Road360 m
Turn right onto Faraday Road.
Faraday Road115 m
Turn left to stay on Faraday Road.
Faraday Road291 m
Turn left.
13 m
Turn left.
44 m
Turn right.
13 m
Turn left.
258 m
Turn left.
13 m
Turn left.
44 m
Turn right.
13 m
Turn right onto Faraday Road.
Faraday Road483 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Hereford · Route 5 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 Holmer Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 12.5 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.
Metal Work Supplies
Start near Metal Work Supplies.
Quay House Medical Centre
Continue to Quay House Medical Centre.
Barton Christian Fellowship
Continue to Barton Christian Fellowship.
St Francis Xavier
Continue to St Francis Xavier.
Orange Tree
Continue to Orange Tree.
Westfaling Street
Continue to Westfaling Street, taking the junction with good observation.
Brookfield School
Continue to Brookfield School.
Christadelphian Hall
Continue to Christadelphian Hall.
Holmer CofE Academy
Continue to Holmer CofE Academy.
St Mary
Continue to St Mary.
Grandstand
Continue to Grandstand.
Holy Trinity
Continue to Holy Trinity.
City Bus Station
Continue to City Bus Station.
Salvation Army - Hereford Citadel Corps
Continue to Salvation Army - Hereford Citadel Corps.
Co-op Food
Continue to Co-op Food.
Three Elms
Continue to Three Elms.
Holmer Roundabout
Continue to Holmer Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Christian Life Centre
Continue to Christian Life Centre.
Welcome Fish Bar
Continue to Welcome Fish Bar.
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 35.4 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Hereford test centre, not an official DVSA route.