Near Merthyr Tydfil test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts, 13 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 110.0 km practice loop near Merthyr Tydfil test centre, taking roughly 45 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 Mountain Hare Roundabout, Abercanaid Roundabout and Leo's 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 stations, churches, shops 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 Merthyr Tydfil 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 182-step drive on real, named roads (about 109.9 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northeast.
25 m
Turn right.
253 m
Turn left.
101 m
Turn left onto Merthyr Road/A4054.
Merthyr Road1.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Merthyr Road/A4054.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4054.
Merthyr Road878 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Pentrebach Road/A4054.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto Pentrebach Road/A4054. Continue on A4054.
A4054902 m
Turn right onto Plymouth Street.
Plymouth Street99 m
Turn left onto Tramroad Side South.
Tramroad Side South542 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Court Street.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Court Street.
Court Street190 m
Move left.
53 m
Enter High Street and take the 3rd exit onto Avenue de Clichy/A4054.
High Street82 m
Exit the roundabout onto Avenue de Clichy/A4054.
Avenue de Clichy326 m
Turn left onto Avenue de Clichy/A4054. Continue on A4054.
A4054431 m
Turn right onto Penry Street/A4054.
Penry Street98 m
Turn right onto Avenue de Clichy/A4054.
Avenue de Clichy364 m
Turn right onto River Taff Central Link Gyratory/A4054.
River Taff Central Link Gyratory427 m
Turn left onto Penry Street.
Penry Street293 m
Turn left onto Heol S O Davies.
Heol S O Davies233 m
Turn left onto Aberdare Road.
Aberdare Road215 m
Turn right.
259 m
Turn left onto Cae'r Wern.
Cae'r Wern252 m
Turn left to stay on Cae'r Wern.
Cae'r Wern73 m
Turn left to stay on Cae'r Wern.
Cae'r Wern128 m
Turn left to stay on Cae'r Wern.
Cae'r Wern78 m
Turn right to stay on Cae'r Wern.
Cae'r Wern128 m
Turn right.
259 m
Turn left onto Aberdare Road.
Aberdare Road476 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
82 m
Exit the roundabout.
127 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
32 m
Exit the roundabout.
273 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Swansea Road/A4102.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Swansea Road/A4102.
Swansea Road85 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A470.
112 m
Exit the roundabout onto A470.
A4701.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A470.
54 m
Exit the roundabout onto A470.
A47098 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
109 m
Exit the roundabout onto A465/Heads of the Valleys Road.
A4654.9 km
Take the Dowlais Top exit.
438 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
37 m
Exit the roundabout.
179 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit.
30 m
Exit the roundabout.
1.0 km
Turn right.
5.0 km
Move right.
1.5 km
Turn right onto Pleasant View.
Pleasant View2.5 km
Turn left onto Lewis Street.
Lewis Street129 m
Turn right onto George Street.
George Street230 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street2.8 km
Turn left.
1.6 km
Move left.
4.9 km
Turn left.
993 m
Move left.
25 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit.
6 m
Exit the roundabout.
178 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit.
207 m
Exit the roundabout onto A465/Heads of the Valleys Road.
A4655.0 km
Take the exit.
369 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A470.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto A470.
A4701.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Swansea Road/A4102.
16 m
Exit the roundabout onto Swansea Road/A4102.
Swansea Road96 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Swansea Road/A4102.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto Swansea Road/A4102.
Swansea Road482 m
Turn right onto Nantygwenith Street.
Nantygwenith Street303 m
Move right onto Dynevor Street.
Dynevor Street263 m
Turn left onto Penry Street/A4054.
Penry Street99 m
Turn left onto Avenue de Clichy/A4054.
Avenue de Clichy229 m
Turn right onto Bethesda Street/A4102. Continue on A4102.
A41021.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto High Street.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Street.
High Street945 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Balaclava Road.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Balaclava Road.
Balaclava Road167 m
Turn right onto Upper Elizabeth Street.
Upper Elizabeth Street212 m
Turn left onto Berry Square.
Berry Square172 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street95 m
Turn left onto Alma Street.
Alma Street53 m
Turn left onto Morlais Street.
Morlais Street212 m
Turn left onto Balaclava Road.
Balaclava Road445 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto New Road.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Road.
New Road945 m
Enter High Street and take the 2nd exit onto High Street/A4102.
High Street32 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Street/A4102. Continue on A4102.
A4102898 m
Turn right onto Brecon Road.
Brecon Road337 m
Turn right onto Dane Street.
Dane Street303 m
Turn right onto King Edward Street.
King Edward Street71 m
Turn left onto The Grove.
The Grove257 m
Turn right onto Gwaelodygarth Road/The Avenue.
Gwaelodygarth Road/The Avenue263 m
Turn left onto High Street/A4102.
High Street307 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto High Street.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto High Street.
High Street945 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Balaclava Road.
12 m
Exit the roundabout onto Balaclava Road.
Balaclava Road167 m
Turn right onto Upper Elizabeth Street.
Upper Elizabeth Street212 m
Turn left onto Berry Square.
Berry Square172 m
Turn right onto Broad Street.
Broad Street95 m
Turn left onto Alma Street.
Alma Street53 m
Turn left onto Morlais Street.
Morlais Street212 m
Turn left onto Balaclava Road.
Balaclava Road445 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto New Road.
59 m
Exit the roundabout onto New Road.
New Road419 m
Turn right onto Elim Street.
Elim Street101 m
Turn right onto District Street.
District Street127 m
Move left onto Urban Street.
Urban Street162 m
Move left onto Gwaunfarren Road.
Gwaunfarren Road35 m
Turn left to stay on Gwaunfarren Road.
Gwaunfarren Road97 m
Turn right.
80 m
Move left onto Garden City.
Garden City98 m
Turn left onto Gwaunfarren Close.
Gwaunfarren Close138 m
Turn right to stay on Gwaunfarren Close.
Gwaunfarren Close1 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Gwaunfarren Close.
Gwaunfarren Close1 m
Turn left to stay on Gwaunfarren Close.
Gwaunfarren Close138 m
Turn right onto Garden City.
Garden City98 m
Move right.
80 m
Turn left onto Gwaunfarren Road.
Gwaunfarren Road59 m
Turn right onto Tanybryn Place.
Tanybryn Place221 m
Turn right onto District Street.
District Street60 m
Turn left onto Elim Street.
Elim Street101 m
Turn right onto High Street.
High Street527 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4102.
9 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4102.
A4102659 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4102.
56 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4102.
A4102569 m
Enter Mountain Hare Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4060.
Mountain Hare Roundabout96 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A40602.2 km
Enter Leo's Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4060.
Leo's Roundabout26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A4060211 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4060.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A4060880 m
Enter Abercanaid Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A470.
Abercanaid Roundabout25 m
Exit the roundabout onto A470.
A4708.9 km
Enter Abercynon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4059.
Abercynon Roundabout196 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4059.
A40596.1 km
Turn right onto Dyffryn Road.
Dyffryn Road71 m
Turn left to stay on Dyffryn Road.
Dyffryn Road263 m
Move left.
508 m
Keep left to take The Avenue.
The Avenue1.4 km
Make a sharp left.
368 m
Make a right U-turn.
368 m
Make a sharp right onto The Avenue.
The Avenue1.9 km
Move right onto Dyffryn Road.
Dyffryn Road263 m
Turn right to stay on Dyffryn Road.
Dyffryn Road71 m
Turn left onto A4059.
A40596.1 km
Enter Abercynon Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A470.
Abercynon Roundabout28 m
Exit the roundabout onto A470.
A4708.9 km
Enter Abercanaid Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4060.
Abercanaid Roundabout109 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A4060883 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4060.
76 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A4060205 m
Enter Leo's Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4060.
Leo's Roundabout28 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A40602.3 km
Enter Mountain Hare Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A4102.
Mountain Hare Roundabout8 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4102.
A4102579 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Goat Mill Road.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Goat Mill Road.
Goat Mill Road490 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Goat Mill Road.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Goat Mill Road.
Goat Mill Road872 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Victoria Street.
47 m
Exit the roundabout onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street456 m
Turn left onto Mount Pleasant Street.
Mount Pleasant Street65 m
Turn right onto Alma Street.
Alma Street44 m
Turn left onto Broad Street.
Broad Street95 m
Turn left onto Cross Morlais Street.
Cross Morlais Street45 m
Turn left onto Mount Pleasant Street.
Mount Pleasant Street159 m
Turn right onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street456 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Goat Mill Road.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Goat Mill Road.
Goat Mill Road873 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Goat Mill Road.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto Goat Mill Road.
Goat Mill Road492 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4102.
28 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4102.
A4102569 m
Enter Mountain Hare Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A4060.
Mountain Hare Roundabout96 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A40602.2 km
Enter Leo's Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A4060.
Leo's Roundabout26 m
Exit the roundabout onto A4060.
A4060211 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Merthyr Road/A4054.
57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Merthyr Road/A4054.
Merthyr Road535 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Merthyr Tydfil · Route 6 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 Mountain Hare Roundabout, Abercanaid Roundabout, Leo's Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 38.1 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, 70 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.
Merthyr Bus Station Stand 2
Start near Merthyr Bus Station Stand 2.
Pentre-bach
Continue to Pentre-bach.
Christ Church
Continue to Christ Church.
morph print
Continue to morph print.
Mount Pleasant Inn
Continue to Mount Pleasant Inn.
St Mary and St Andrew Church
Continue to St Mary and St Andrew Church.
Bedlinog George Street
Continue to Bedlinog George Street.
Comfort Zone
Continue to Comfort Zone.
creative signs wales
Continue to creative signs wales.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Continue to Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
horeb welsh independant chapel
Continue to horeb welsh independant chapel.
St Illtyds Rc Church
Continue to St Illtyds Rc Church.
Mountain Hare Roundabout
Continue to Mountain Hare Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Abercanaid Roundabout
Continue to Abercanaid Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Ysgol Gymraeg Abercynon
Continue to Ysgol Gymraeg Abercynon.
St Margaret's Church
Continue to St Margaret's Church.
Bethania Chapel
Continue to Bethania Chapel.
Leo's Roundabout
Continue to Leo's Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Farmers Arms
Continue to Farmers Arms.
Dowlais Police Station
Finish back near Dowlais Police Station, completing the loop.
18 roundabouts · 14 turns · 2 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 16 turns
14 roundabouts · 13 turns · 1 set of lights
21 roundabouts · 8 turns · 2 sets of lights
This route is 110.0 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Merthyr Tydfil test centre, not an official DVSA route.