Near Horsforth test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 4 roundabouts, 18 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 48.8 km practice loop near Horsforth 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 Broadlea Hill. 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 churches, 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 Horsforth 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 136-step drive on real, named roads (about 48.8 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive southwest on Springfield Gardens.
Springfield Gardens72 m
Turn left onto Back Low Lane.
Back Low Lane52 m
Turn left onto Springfield Mount.
Springfield Mount24 m
Turn right onto Low Lane.
Low Lane334 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Low Lane.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane214 m
Turn left to stay on Low Lane.
Low Lane1.1 km
Turn left onto Spen Lane.
Spen Lane250 m
Turn left onto West Park Drive.
West Park Drive107 m
Turn left onto Moor Grange View.
Moor Grange View265 m
Turn left onto Butcher Hill.
Butcher Hill77 m
Turn right onto Spen Lane.
Spen Lane1.2 km
Turn right onto Abbey Walk.
Abbey Walk216 m
Turn right towards Ilkley/Horsforth/Airport.
Abbey Road504 m
Turn right onto Vesper Walk.
Vesper Walk90 m
Turn right onto Vesper Gate Drive.
Vesper Gate Drive162 m
Turn left towards Leeds/Kirkstall.
A651.2 km
Take the exit on the right.
23 m
Move right.
13 m
Move right onto Savins Mill Way.
Savins Mill Way231 m
Turn right onto Bridge Road/B6157.
Bridge Road109 m
Turn left towards Horsforth.
Abbey Road2.5 km
Turn right towards Horsforth.
Hawksworth Road915 m
Move left onto Low Lane.
Low Lane217 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Low Lane.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane819 m
Turn right onto Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close108 m
Turn left to stay on Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close67 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close67 m
Turn right to stay on Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close107 m
Turn left onto Low Lane.
Low Lane820 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Low Lane.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane90 m
Turn right onto Outwood Lane.
Outwood Lane212 m
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane38 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Broad Lane.
Broad Lane38 m
Turn right onto Outwood Lane.
Outwood Lane211 m
Turn right onto Low Lane.
Low Lane123 m
Move right onto Hawksworth Road.
Hawksworth Road915 m
Turn left towards Leeds/Kirkstall.
A652.5 km
Take the exit on the right.
23 m
Move right.
13 m
Move right onto Savins Mill Way.
Savins Mill Way210 m
Turn left to stay on Savins Mill Way.
Savins Mill Way32 m
Move left onto Bridge Road/B6157.
Bridge Road183 m
Move left onto Wyther Lane.
Wyther Lane61 m
Turn left to stay on Wyther Lane.
Wyther Lane386 m
Turn right onto Raynville Road.
Raynville Road446 m
Turn right onto Raynville Avenue.
Raynville Avenue293 m
Turn left onto Raynville Close.
Raynville Close20 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Raynville Close.
Raynville Close20 m
Turn right onto Raynville Avenue.
Raynville Avenue70 m
Turn left onto Victoria Park Grove.
Victoria Park Grove109 m
Turn left onto Lancastre Avenue.
Lancastre Avenue123 m
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane54 m
Turn left onto Lancastre Grove.
Lancastre Grove225 m
Turn left onto Victoria Park Avenue.
Victoria Park Avenue111 m
Turn left onto Kirkstall Mount.
Kirkstall Mount239 m
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane194 m
Turn left onto Outgang Lane.
Outgang Lane224 m
Turn left onto Victoria Park Grove.
Victoria Park Grove191 m
Turn left.
18 m
Turn left onto Victoria Park Avenue.
Victoria Park Avenue341 m
Turn left onto Raynville Avenue.
Raynville Avenue178 m
Turn left onto Raynville Close.
Raynville Close20 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Raynville Close.
Raynville Close20 m
Turn right onto Raynville Avenue.
Raynville Avenue70 m
Turn left onto Victoria Park Grove.
Victoria Park Grove56 m
Turn left onto Lancastre Grove.
Lancastre Grove118 m
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane84 m
Turn left onto Outgang Lane.
Outgang Lane368 m
Turn right onto Landseer Mount.
Landseer Mount311 m
Turn right onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane689 m
Move left onto Wyther Lane.
Wyther Lane61 m
Move right onto Bridge Road/B6157.
Bridge Road323 m
Turn left towards Horsforth.
Abbey Road2.5 km
Turn right towards Horsforth.
Hawksworth Road915 m
Move left onto Low Lane.
Low Lane123 m
Turn left onto Outwood Lane.
Outwood Lane212 m
Turn left onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane38 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Broad Lane.
Broad Lane38 m
Turn right onto Outwood Lane.
Outwood Lane211 m
Turn right onto Low Lane.
Low Lane123 m
Move right onto Hawksworth Road.
Hawksworth Road915 m
Turn left towards Leeds/Kirkstall.
A652.5 km
Take the exit on the right.
23 m
Move right.
13 m
Move right onto Savins Mill Way.
Savins Mill Way210 m
Turn left to stay on Savins Mill Way.
Savins Mill Way32 m
Move left onto Bridge Road/B6157.
Bridge Road183 m
Move left onto Wyther Lane.
Wyther Lane61 m
Move right onto Broad Lane.
Broad Lane229 m
Turn right onto Broadlea Terrace.
Broadlea Terrace420 m
Turn right onto Broadlea Close.
Broadlea Close51 m
Turn right.
51 m
Make a right U-turn.
51 m
Turn left onto Broadlea Close.
Broadlea Close51 m
Turn right onto Broadlea Terrace.
Broadlea Terrace218 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Broadlea Hill.
58 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadlea Hill.
Broadlea Hill76 m
Turn right onto Broadlea Avenue.
Broadlea Avenue252 m
Move right onto Broadlea Oval.
Broadlea Oval188 m
Turn right onto Leeds and Bradford Road/B6157.
Leeds and Bradford Road237 m
Turn right onto Broadlea Hill.
Broadlea Hill183 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Broadlea Hill.
146 m
Exit the roundabout onto Broadlea Hill.
Broadlea Hill183 m
Turn left onto Leeds and Bradford Road/B6157.
Leeds and Bradford Road1.7 km
Turn right onto Upper Rodley Lane/A657. Continue on A657.
A6572.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A6120/Horsforth New Road.
81 m
Exit the roundabout onto A6120/Horsforth New Road. Continue on A6120.
A61201.5 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Ring Road/Harrogate/Wetherby/York.
41 m
Exit the roundabout towards Ring Road/Harrogate/Wetherby/York.
A61202.2 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Low Lane.
13 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane819 m
Turn right onto Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close108 m
Turn left to stay on Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close67 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close67 m
Turn right to stay on Bridge Wood Close.
Bridge Wood Close107 m
Turn left onto Low Lane.
Low Lane820 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Low Lane.
38 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane214 m
Move right onto Hawksworth Road.
Hawksworth Road915 m
Turn left towards Leeds/Kirkstall.
Abbey Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Vesper Gate Drive.
Vesper Gate Drive162 m
Turn left onto Vesper Walk.
Vesper Walk90 m
Turn right towards Ilkley/Horsforth/Airport.
A651.9 km
Turn right onto Back Sunnybank Road.
Back Sunnybank Road78 m
Turn right onto Featherbank Lane.
Featherbank Lane150 m
Move left towards Leeds/Kirkstall.
New Road Side127 m
Move left onto Outwood Lane.
Outwood Lane1.3 km
Turn left onto Low Lane.
Low Lane93 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Low Lane.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Low Lane.
Low Lane332 m
Turn left onto Springfield Mount.
Springfield Mount24 m
Turn right onto Back Low Lane.
Back Low Lane26 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Horsforth · Route 20 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.
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
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 4.0 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, 50, 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.
Church of St Andrew the Apostle, Moor Grange
Start near Church of St Andrew the Apostle, Moor Grange.
Abbey Road Vesper Gate Drive
Continue to Abbey Road Vesper Gate Drive.
Abbey Road Abbey Walk
Continue to Abbey Road Abbey Walk.
Kirkstall Bridge Road
Continue to Kirkstall Bridge Road.
Abbey Road Abbeydale Way
Continue to Abbey Road Abbeydale Way.
Abbey Road Vesper Walk
Continue to Abbey Road Vesper Walk.
New Road Side Hawksworth Road
Continue to New Road Side Hawksworth Road.
New Ho Garden
Continue to New Ho Garden.
Woodside Methodist Church
Continue to Woodside Methodist Church.
Church At Amen Corner
Continue to Church At Amen Corner.
Oriental
Continue to Oriental.
Victoria Park Garden
Continue to Victoria Park Garden.
Kirkstall Brewery Residences
Continue to Kirkstall Brewery Residences.
Broadlea Hill
Continue to Broadlea Hill, taking the junction with good observation.
Acorn
Continue to Acorn.
Crown & Anchor
Continue to Crown & Anchor.
Broadway Parkside
Continue to Broadway Parkside.
New Road Side Horsforth
Continue to New Road Side Horsforth.
New Road Side Oliver Hill
Continue to New Road Side Oliver Hill.
New Road Side Featherbank Lane
Finish back near New Road Side Featherbank Lane, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 19 turns · 1 set of lights
4 roundabouts · 19 turns · 1 set of lights
2 roundabouts · 21 turns · 1 set of lights
2 roundabouts · 18 turns
This route is 48.8 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Horsforth test centre, not an official DVSA route.