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Practice route
ModerateLoop

Taunton · Residential + A-road practice loop

Near Taunton test centre

16.2 km
Distance
22 min
Duration
Moderate
Difficulty
58
Manoeuvres
Difficulty: Demanding

Rated demanding from its real manoeuvre load, 30 roundabouts and 20 turns across 58 navigation steps.

How this route is examined

This is an independent 16.2 km practice loop near Taunton test centre, taking roughly 22 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 Nerrols Farm Roundabout, Aginhills Roundabout, Canal Roundabout, Priorswood Road and Great Western Way Roundabout and 1 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, stations 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 Taunton 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.

Manoeuvre breakdown

What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.

20
Left turns
0
Right turns
30
Roundabouts
0
Traffic lights
58
Total steps

Skills & features

5
Roundabouts
20
Landmarks

This route helps you practise:

  • Multiple roundabouts
  • Independent driving
  • Sustained concentration

Turn-by-turn directions

The full 58-step drive on real, named roads (about 16.3 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.

  1. Depart:

    Drive west on Crown Close.

    Crown Close73 m

  2. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Crown Close.

    Crown Close62 m

  3. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Venture Way.

    Venture Way110 m

  4. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Venture Way.

    Venture Way217 m

  5. Roundabout:

    Enter Nerrols Farm Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Priorswood Road/A3259.

    Nerrols Farm Roundabout96 m

  6. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Priorswood Road/A3259. Continue on A3259.

    A32591.2 km

  7. Roundabout:

    Enter Aginhills Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Milton Hill/A3259.

    Aginhills Roundabout28 m

  8. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Milton Hill/A3259. Continue on A3259.

    A3259379 m

  9. Roundabout:

    Enter Canal Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Bridgwater Road/A38.

    Canal Roundabout29 m

  10. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Bridgwater Road/A38.

    Bridgwater Road348 m

  11. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Acacia Gardens.

    Acacia Gardens87 m

  12. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Acacia Gardens.

    Acacia Gardens61 m

  13. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Swingbridge.

    Swingbridge32 m

  14. Turn right:

    Turn right.

    8 m

  15. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn.

    8 m

  16. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Swingbridge.

    Swingbridge32 m

  17. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Acacia Gardens.

    Acacia Gardens61 m

  18. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Acacia Gardens.

    Acacia Gardens87 m

  19. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Bridgwater Road/A38.

    Bridgwater Road347 m

  20. Roundabout:

    Enter Canal Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Bridgwater Road/A3259.

    Canal Roundabout15 m

  21. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Bridgwater Road/A3259. Continue on A3259.

    A3259379 m

  22. Roundabout:

    Enter Aginhills Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Western Relief Road/A3259.

    Aginhills Roundabout4 m

  23. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Western Relief Road/A3259. Continue on A3259.

    A32591.2 km

  24. Roundabout:

    Enter Nerrols Farm Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Priorswood Road/A3259.

    Nerrols Farm Roundabout67 m

  25. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Priorswood Road/A3259.

    Priorswood Road724 m

  26. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Priorswood Road/A358.

    29 m

  27. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Priorswood Road/A358. Continue on A358.

    A3581.1 km

  28. Turn left:

    Move left onto Greenway Road/A358. Continue on A358.

    A3582.2 km

  29. Roundabout:

    Enter Silk Mills Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Silk Mills Lane/A3065.

    Silk Mills Roundabout3 m

  30. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Silk Mills Lane/A3065.

    Silk Mills Lane319 m

  31. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Great Western Way.

    Great Western Way253 m

  32. Roundabout:

    Enter Great Western Way Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Great Western Way.

    Great Western Way Roundabout85 m

  33. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Great Western Way.

    Great Western Way262 m

  34. Turn left:

    Move left onto Silk Mills Lane/A3065.

    Silk Mills Lane282 m

  35. Roundabout:

    Enter Silk Mills Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Minehead Road/A358.

    Silk Mills Roundabout41 m

  36. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Minehead Road/A358. Continue on A358.

    A358968 m

  37. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Staplegrove Road/A3027. Continue on A3027.

    A3027794 m

  38. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Trenchard Way/A3087.

    31 m

  39. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Trenchard Way/A3087.

    Trenchard Way1.4 km

  40. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Abbey Close.

    Abbey Close85 m

  41. Turn right:

    Turn right onto Firepool Crescent.

    Firepool Crescent35 m

  42. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Firepool Crescent.

    Firepool Crescent42 m

  43. U-turn:

    Make a right U-turn to stay on Firepool Crescent.

    Firepool Crescent42 m

  44. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Firepool Crescent.

    Firepool Crescent35 m

  45. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Abbey Close.

    Abbey Close86 m

  46. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Trenchard Way/A3087.

    Trenchard Way308 m

  47. Roundabout:

    Enter Priory Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Priory Avenue/A3038.

    Priory Roundabout7 m

  48. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Priory Avenue/A3038.

    Priory Avenue234 m

  49. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Obridge Viaduct/A358.

    9 m

  50. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Obridge Viaduct/A358.

    Obridge Viaduct782 m

  51. Roundabout:

    Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Priorswood Road/A3259.

    60 m

  52. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Priorswood Road/A3259.

    Priorswood Road723 m

  53. Roundabout:

    Enter Nerrols Farm Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Venture Way.

    Nerrols Farm Roundabout120 m

  54. Leave roundabout:

    Exit the roundabout onto Venture Way.

    Venture Way219 m

  55. Turn right:

    Turn right to stay on Venture Way.

    Venture Way110 m

  56. Turn left:

    Turn left onto Crown Close.

    Crown Close62 m

  57. Turn left:

    Turn left to stay on Crown Close.

    Crown Close73 m

  58. Arrive:

    You have arrived at your destination.

Directions for the Taunton · Residential + A-road practice loop loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.

Local roads & landmarks

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.

Junctions & roundabouts

Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.

  • Nerrols Farm Roundabout
  • Aginhills Roundabout
  • Canal Roundabout
  • Priorswood Road
  • Great Western Way Roundabout
  • Priory Roundabout

Stations

Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.

  • Farrier's Green (N-bound)
  • Cross Keys (E-bound)

Schools

Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.

  • Taunton Preparatory School

Churches

Useful navigation anchors on the loop.

  • Rowbarton Methodist Church

Parks & green space

Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.

  • Children's Wood

Pubs

Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.

  • Bathpool Inn

Shops & parades

Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.

  • Easy Bathrooms
  • Fairwater Garage
  • One Stop
  • Tesco Express

Watch out for

  • Multiple roundabouts

    Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Nerrols Farm Roundabout, Aginhills Roundabout, Canal Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.

Drive it: landmark by landmark

Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.

  1. Easy Bathrooms

    Start near Easy Bathrooms.

  2. Nerrols Farm Roundabout

    Continue to Nerrols Farm Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  3. Aginhills Roundabout

    Continue to Aginhills Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  4. Farrier's Green (N-bound)

    Continue to Farrier's Green (N-bound).

  5. Canal Roundabout

    Continue to Canal Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  6. Bathpool Inn

    Continue to Bathpool Inn.

  7. Fairwater Garage

    Continue to Fairwater Garage.

  8. Priorswood Road

    Continue to Priorswood Road, taking the junction with good observation.

  9. One Stop

    Continue to One Stop.

  10. Tesco Express

    Continue to Tesco Express.

  11. Co-operative Funeralcare

    Continue to Co-operative Funeralcare.

  12. Rowbarton Methodist Church

    Continue to Rowbarton Methodist Church.

  13. Your Local

    Continue to Your Local.

  14. Greenway Garage

    Continue to Greenway Garage.

  15. Welcome Staplegrove

    Continue to Welcome Staplegrove.

  16. Great Western Way Roundabout

    Continue to Great Western Way Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.

  17. Cross Keys (E-bound)

    Continue to Cross Keys (E-bound).

  18. Taunton Preparatory School

    Continue to Taunton Preparatory School.

  19. Children's Wood

    Continue to Children's Wood.

  20. Priory Roundabout

    Finish back near Priory Roundabout, completing the loop.

More routes at Taunton test centre

Route FAQs

This route is 16.2 km and takes about 22 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Taunton test centre, not an official DVSA route.