Near Montrose test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 13 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 20.6 km practice route near Montrose 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 Ferryden Roundabout and Inch Terrace. 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, national-speed roads, 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 20 catalogued landmarks, including shops, named junctions, schools and churches, 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 Montrose 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 58-step drive on real, named roads (about 20.6 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive west on Garrison Road.
Garrison Road82 m
Turn right onto Ferry Road.
Ferry Road48 m
Move left onto Caledonia Street.
Caledonia Street233 m
Move right onto River Street.
River Street534 m
Turn left onto Rossie Island Road/A92. Continue on A92.
A92771 m
Enter Ferryden Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Burnside Place.
Ferryden Roundabout57 m
Exit the roundabout onto Burnside Place.
Burnside Place364 m
Turn right onto Craig Road.
Craig Road305 m
Turn left onto Grampian View.
Grampian View344 m
Turn left onto Inchbrayock Road.
Inchbrayock Road145 m
Turn left to stay on Inchbrayock Road.
Inchbrayock Road11 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Inchbrayock Road.
Inchbrayock Road11 m
Turn right to stay on Inchbrayock Road.
Inchbrayock Road145 m
Turn right onto Grampian View.
Grampian View344 m
Turn right onto Craig Road.
Craig Road306 m
Turn left onto Burnside Place.
Burnside Place367 m
Enter Ferryden Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A92.
Ferryden Roundabout76 m
Exit the roundabout onto A92.
A92783 m
Turn right onto Wharf Street/B9133.
Wharf Street193 m
Turn left onto Shore Wynd.
Shore Wynd20 m
Turn right onto Apple Wynd.
Apple Wynd170 m
Move left onto South Esk Street.
South Esk Street90 m
Turn left onto Balmain Street.
Balmain Street121 m
Turn right onto Castle Place.
Castle Place42 m
Turn left onto Bridge Street.
Bridge Street372 m
Turn left onto Basin View/A92.
Basin View129 m
Turn left onto Wharf Street/B9133.
Wharf Street193 m
Turn left onto Shore Wynd.
Shore Wynd77 m
Turn right onto Castle Street.
Castle Street293 m
Turn left onto Bridge Street.
Bridge Street256 m
Turn left onto Upper Craigo Street.
Upper Craigo Street69 m
Turn left onto Castle Street.
Castle Street225 m
Turn right onto Castle Place.
Castle Place52 m
Move left onto High Street.
High Street186 m
Move left to stay on High Street.
High Street814 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto North Esk Road/A92.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Esk Road/A92.
North Esk Road394 m
Turn left onto Brechin Road.
Brechin Road482 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Brechin Road/A935.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Brechin Road/A935. Continue on A935.
A9352.0 km
Turn right.
133 m
Turn left.
958 m
Turn right onto Dubton Road.
Dubton Road2.2 km
Turn right onto Main Road.
Main Road45 m
Turn right onto Loan Dykes/A937. Continue on A937.
A9371.7 km
Turn right onto Charleton Road/A92. Continue on A92.
A92890 m
Turn left onto Rosehill Road.
Rosehill Road330 m
Turn left onto Rose Hill.
Rose Hill407 m
Turn left onto Broomfield Road.
Broomfield Road213 m
Turn left onto North Esk Road/A92.
North Esk Road441 m
Turn left onto Rosehill Road.
Rosehill Road330 m
Turn right onto Mount Road.
Mount Road1.2 km
Turn right onto George Street.
George Street106 m
Move left onto Castle Place.
Castle Place52 m
Turn left to stay on Castle Place.
Castle Place294 m
Turn left onto Shore Wynd.
Shore Wynd76 m
Turn right onto Wharf Street/B9133.
Wharf Street76 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Montrose · Route 2 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.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Ferryden Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40, 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.
Bamse (Royal Norwegian Navy Dog) Memorial
Start near Bamse (Royal Norwegian Navy Dog) Memorial.
W motors
Continue to W motors.
Good Food 2 Go
Continue to Good Food 2 Go.
War Memorial
Continue to War Memorial.
Ferryden Roundabout
Continue to Ferryden Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Inch Terrace
Continue to Inch Terrace, taking the junction with good observation.
Premier
Continue to Premier.
Southesk Primary School
Continue to Southesk Primary School.
Nisa
Continue to Nisa.
Seafarer
Continue to Seafarer.
Melville South Church
Continue to Melville South Church.
Montrose Old and St Andrew's Church
Continue to Montrose Old and St Andrew's Church.
Dundee and Angus College - Montrose Learning Centre
Continue to Dundee and Angus College - Montrose Learning Centre.
Lochside Church
Continue to Lochside Church.
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Continue to Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Howdens Joinery
Continue to Howdens Joinery.
Toolstation
Continue to Toolstation.
Asda Express
Continue to Asda Express.
Knox's United Free Church
Continue to Knox's United Free Church.
Methodist Chapel
Finish back near Methodist Chapel, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 16 turns
5 roundabouts · 17 turns · 1 set of lights
8 roundabouts · 14 turns · 4 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 20 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 20.6 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Montrose test centre, not an official DVSA route.