Near Inverness test centre
Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 62 roundabouts and 2 turns across 71 navigation steps.
This is an independent 32.5 km practice loop near Inverness test centre, taking roughly 29 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 Longman Roundabout, Raigmore Interchange, West Seafield Roundabout, Smithton Roundabout and Inshes Roundabout and 9 more named junctions. 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, 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, named junctions and pubs, 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 Inverness 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:
The full 71-step drive on real, named roads (about 32.5 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive north on A82/Harbour Road Roundabout.
A8227 m
Exit the roundabout onto A82.
A82726 m
Enter Longman Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A9/E 15.
Longman Roundabout121 m
Exit the roundabout onto A9/E 15.
A91.3 km
Take the Raigmore Interchange exit.
A9364 m
Enter Raigmore Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A96.
Raigmore Interchange91 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96762 m
Enter West Seafield Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A96.
West Seafield Roundabout48 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96910 m
Enter Smithton Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A96.
Smithton Roundabout188 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96896 m
Enter West Seafield Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A96.
West Seafield Roundabout65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A96.
A96759 m
Enter Raigmore Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A9.
Raigmore Interchange3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A9/E 15.
A91.2 km
Take the exit.
A9244 m
Turn left onto B9006.
B9006527 m
Enter Inshes Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Inshes Roundabout34 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Sir Walter Scott Drive599 m
Enter Dellfield Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Dellfield Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Sir Walter Scott Drive843 m
Enter Wades Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A8082.
Wades Roundabout63 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A80821.1 km
Enter Slackbuie Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A8082.
Slackbuie Roundabout64 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A8082300 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A8082.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A8082350 m
Enter Leys Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
Leys Roundabout42 m
Exit the roundabout onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
Culduthel Avenue606 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
Culduthel Avenue337 m
Enter Essich Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Holm Road/A8082.
Essich Roundabout35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holm Road/A8082.
Holm Road769 m
Enter Holm Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A8082.
Holm Roundabout36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A8082392 m
Enter Ness-side Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A8082.
Ness-side Roundabout123 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A8082348 m
Move left to stay on A8082.
A808235 m
Enter Holm Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Holm Road/A8082.
Holm Roundabout72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Holm Road/A8082.
Holm Road773 m
Enter Essich Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
Essich Roundabout32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
Culduthel Avenue337 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Culduthel Avenue/A8082.
Culduthel Avenue606 m
Enter Leys Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A8082.
Leys Roundabout47 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A8082349 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A8082.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A8082296 m
Enter Slackbuie Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A8082.
Slackbuie Roundabout38 m
Exit the roundabout onto A8082.
A80821.1 km
Enter Wades Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Wades Roundabout51 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Sir Walter Scott Drive849 m
Enter Dellfield Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Dellfield Roundabout61 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Sir Walter Scott Drive596 m
Enter Inshes Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Inshes Roundabout56 m
Exit the roundabout onto Sir Walter Scott Drive/A8082.
Sir Walter Scott Drive304 m
Stay straight to take the A9 ramp.
A92.7 km
Enter Longman Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A9/E 15.
Longman Roundabout76 m
Exit the roundabout onto A9/E 15.
A93.5 km
Take the North Kessock Junction exit.
A9130 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto First Field Avenue.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto First Field Avenue.
First Field Avenue554 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto First Field Avenue.
45 m
Exit the roundabout onto First Field Avenue.
First Field Avenue552 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
6 m
Exit the roundabout.
423 m
Turn right to take the A9 ramp.
A93.5 km
Enter Longman Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A82.
Longman Roundabout109 m
Exit the roundabout onto A82.
A82723 m
Enter Harbour Road Roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
Harbour Road Roundabout78 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Inverness · Roundabout practice loop 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.
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 Longman Roundabout, West Seafield Roundabout, Smithton Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.
Alpine Bikes
Start near Alpine Bikes.
Longman Roundabout
Continue to Longman Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Raigmore Interchange
Continue to Raigmore Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
West Seafield Roundabout
Continue to West Seafield Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Smithton Roundabout
Continue to Smithton Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Snow Goose
Continue to Snow Goose.
Highland Fuels
Continue to Highland Fuels.
Inshes Roundabout
Continue to Inshes Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Dellfield Roundabout
Continue to Dellfield Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Wades Roundabout
Continue to Wades Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Slackbuie Roundabout
Continue to Slackbuie Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Three Witches
Continue to Three Witches.
Leys Roundabout
Continue to Leys Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Culduthel Avenue
Continue to Culduthel Avenue, taking the junction with good observation.
Essich Roundabout
Continue to Essich Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Holm Roundabout
Continue to Holm Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Ness-side Roundabout
Continue to Ness-side Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Harry Gow
Continue to Harry Gow.
Highland Industrial Supplies
Continue to Highland Industrial Supplies.
Harbour Road Roundabout
Finish back near Harbour Road Roundabout, completing the loop.
14 roundabouts · 16 turns
32 roundabouts · 2 turns
24 roundabouts · 10 turns
14 roundabouts · 12 turns
This route is 32.5 km and takes about 29 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Inverness test centre, not an official DVSA route.