Original Published Test Routes
Step-by-step directions for all 13 original DVSA-published routes from Unit 1A, Benning Court (off Riverside Road), Pottington Industrial Estate.
Cars Routes
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
4
Eastern Ave
At roundabout, turn left
5
Whiddon Drive
At end of road, turn right
6
Whiddon Drive
At roundabout, turn left
7
Eastern Ave
At roundabout, turn right
8
A361
At roundabout, turn right
9
Bishops Tawton Rd
Turn right
10
Chichester Rd
At end of road, turn right
11
Willowtree Rd
At end of road, turn left
12
Rumsam Rd
Turn left
13
Fortescue Rd
At end of road, turn left
14
Bishops Tawton Rd
At roundabout, turn left
15
A361
At roundabout, turn right
16
A361
Turn right
17
Blakes Hill
Turn right
18
Vicarage Rd
At end of road, turn right
19
Church Meadow
At end of road, turn right
20
Old A361
At end of road, turn left
21
A361
At roundabout, go ahead
22
Eastern Ave
At roundabout, go ahead
23
Victoria Rd
Turn left
F
Portmarsh Lane
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Alexandra Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Inner Relief Rd
At roundabout, turn left
7
Mermaid Walk
At roundabout, turn right
8
Rolle St
At traffic lights, go ahead
9
Braunton Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
10
Western By Pass
At roundabout, turn right
11
Sticklepath Hill
Turn right
12
Westfield Ave
At end of road, turn right
13
Chestwood Ave
At roundabout, turn right
14
Oakwood Ave
At end of road, turn left
15
Park Ave
At end of road, turn right
16
Lynhurst Ave
At end of road, turn right
17
Ellerslie Rd
At end of road, turn left
18
Bickington Rd
At roundabout, turn right
19
Western By Pass
At roundabout, turn left
20
Bishops Tawton Rd
Turn right
21
Fortescue Rd
At end of road, turn left
22
Landkey Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
23
Newport Rd
Turn right
24
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
F
Portmarsh Lane
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
5
Bedford St
At roundabout, turn left
6
Belle Meadow
At roundabout, turn right
7
Sticklepath Hill
At roundabout, go ahead
8
Bickington Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
9
Bickington Rd
Turn left
10
School Lane
At end of road, turn left
11
Old Bideford Rd
At roundabout, turn right
12
Roundswell Link
At roundabout, go ahead
13
Roundswell Link
At roundabout, turn left
14
A39
At roundabout, go ahead
15
A361
Turn left
16
Bishops Tawton Rd
Turn right
17
Chichester Rd
At end of road, turn right
18
Willowtree Rd
At end of road, turn left
19
Rumsam Rd
Turn right
20
Clinton road
At end of road, turn left
21
Landkey Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
22
Newport Rd
Turn right
23
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
F
Portmarsh Lane
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
3
Newport Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
4
Landkey Rd
Turn left
5
St.Johns Lane
At end of road, turn left
6
Landkey Rd
Turn right
7
Deer Park Rd
At end of road, turn left
8
Venn Quarry Rd
At end of road, turn right
9
Old A361
At end of road, turn left
10
A361
At roundabout, turn left
11
A361
At roundabout, turn right
12
Western By Pass
At traffic lights, turn right
13
Braunton Rd
Turn left
14
Fair View
At traffic lights, turn right
15
St.Georges Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
16
Derby Rd
At end of road, turn right
17
Goodleigh Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
18
Alexandra Rd
At roundabout, turn left
19
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
20
Victoria Rd
Turn left
21
Portmarsh Lane
Turn right
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Alexandra Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
6
Bear St
Turn left
7
Gorwell Rd
Turn right
8
Frankmarsh Rd
At end of road, turn right
9
St.Georges Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
10
Fair View
At traffic lights, turn right
11
Braunton Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
12
Western By Pass
At roundabout, turn left
13
A361
At roundabout, go ahead
14
A361
At roundabout, turn right
15
A361
Turn right
16
Blakes Hill
Turn right
17
Old A361
Turn left
18
Venn Quarry Rd
Turn right
19
Venn Rd
At end of road, turn left
20
Landkey Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
21
Newport Rd
Turn right
22
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
F
Victoria St
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Alexandra Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Inner Relief Rd
At roundabout, turn right
7
Rolle St – Braunton Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
8
Western By Pass
At roundabout, turn right
9
Sticklepath Hill
At roundabout, turn left
10
Old Torrington Rd
Turn right
11
Old Bideford Rd
Turn left
12
Grange Ave – Philip Ave
Turn left
13
Anne Crescent
At end of road, turn left
14
Andrew Rd – Elizabeth Drive
Turn right
15
Shorelands Rd
At end of road, turn left
16
Old Sticklepath Hill
At end of road, turn right
17
Old Torrington Rd
At roundabout, turn right
18
Sticklepath Hill
At roundabout, turn right
19
Western By Pass
At roundabout, turn left
20
A361
At roundabout, turn left
21
Bishops Tawton Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
22
Newport Rd
Turn right
23
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
24
Victoria St
Turn left
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane – Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
3
Newport Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
4
Landkey Rd
Turn right
5
Landkey Lane
Turn left
6
Vicarage Rd
At end of road, turn left
7
Blakes Hill
At end of road, turn left
8
A361
At roundabout, turn left
9
A361
At roundabout, go ahead
10
A361
At roundabout, go ahead
11
A39
At roundabout, turn right
12
Roundswell Link
At roundabout, turn left
13
Bickington Rd
Turn right
14
Ellerslie Rd
Turn left
15
Oakland Park South
At end of road, turn right
16
Oakland Ave
At roundabout, turn left
17
Chestwood Ave
At end of road, turn left
18
Bickington Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
19
Sticklepath Hill
At roundabout, go ahead
20
Long Bridge – Belle Meadow
At roundabout, turn right
21
Bedford St
At roundabout, go ahead
22
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
23
Victoria Rd
Turn left
24
Portmarsh Lane
Turn right
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Alexandra Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
6
Bear St
Turn left
7
Gorwell Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
8
St.Georges Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
9
North Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
10
Westaway Plain
Turn left
11
Wordsworth Ave
At end of road, turn left
12
Littabourne
Turn right
13
Beech Grove – Northfield Park
At end of road, turn right
14
Northfield Lane
At end of road, turn left
15
Westaway Plain
At traffic lights, turn right
16
North Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
17
Fair View
At traffic lights, turn right
18
Braunton rd
At traffic lights, turn left
19
Western By Pass
At roundabout, turn left
20
Sticklepath Hill
At roundabout, turn left
21
Long Bridge
At roundabout, turn right
22
Bedford St
At roundabout, go ahead
23
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
24
Victoria Rd
Turn right
F
Portmarsh Lane
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn right
5
Alexandra Rd
At roundabout, turn right
6
Derby Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
7
St.Georges Rd
Turn right
8
Lethaby Rd
At end of road, turn left
9
Gorwell Rd
At end of road, turn left
10
Goodleigh Rd
Turn right
11
Walton Way
At end of road, turn left
12
Constitution Hill
At roundabout, turn right
13
Victoria Rd
At end of road, turn left
14
Eastern Ave
At roundabout, turn right
15
Hollowtree Rd – South St
Turn left
16
Rumsam Rd
Turn right
17
Fortescue Rd
At end of road, turn left
18
BishopsTawton Rd
At roundabout, turn left
19
A361
At roundabout, turn right
20
A361
Turn right
21
Blakes Hill
Turn left
22
Birch Rd
Turn right
23
Acland Rd
At end of road, turn right
24
Blakes Hill
Turn left
25
Old A361 – Landkey Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
26
Newport Rd
Turn right
27
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
28
Victoria St
Turn left
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
4
Eastern Ave
Turn left
5
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
6
Constitution Hill
Turn right
7
Sowden Lane – Walton way
At end of road, turn left
8
Goodleigh Rd
Turn right
9
Gorwell Rd
Turn left
10
Frankmarsh Rd – Lethaby Rd
At end of road, turn left
11
St.Georges Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
12
Derby Road
At roundabout, turn right
13
Inner Relief Road
Turn right
14
Rolle Street
At traffic lights, go ahead
15
Braunton Road
At traffic lights, turn left
16
Western By Pass
At roundabout, turn left
17
A361
At roundabout, go ahead
18
A361
At roundabout, turn right
19
A361
Turn right
20
Blakes Hill
Turn right
21
Old A361 – Landkey Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
22
Newport Rd
Turn right
23
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
F
Victoria St
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
Car Routes
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
Turn right
3
Victoria Road
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Road
At roundabout, turn right
5
Alexandra Road
At traffic lights, go ahead
6
Gaydon Street
At roundabout, go ahead
7
Inner relief Road
At roundabout, turn right
8
Pilton Causeway
At traffic lights, go ahead
9
North Road
Turn left
10
Westaway Plain
At end of road, turn left
11
A39
Turn right
12
Roborough Lane
At end of road, turn right
13
NDDH Link Road
At traffic lights, turn left
14
North Road
At traffic lights, turn left
15
St.Georges Road
At traffic lights, turn left
16
Derby Road
At roundabout, turn left
17
Gaydon Street
At traffic lights, go ahead
18
Alexandra Road
At roundabout, turn left
19
Barbican Road
At roundabout, turn left
20
Eastern Avenue
At roundabout, go ahead
21
Eastern Avenue
At roundabout, go ahead
22
Eastern Avenue
At roundabout, turn right
23
A361
At roundabout, turn right
24
Bishops Tawton Road
At roundabout, go ahead
25
Bishops Tawton Road
Go ahead
26
South Street
At traffic lights, turn left
27
Newport Road
Turn right
28
Victoria Street
At end of road, turn left
29
Victoria Street
Turn left
30
Portmarsh Lane
Turn left
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Portmarsh Lane
At end of road, turn right
3
Victoria Rd
At roundabout, turn left
4
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
5
Bedford St
At roundabout, turn left
6
Belle Meadow
At roundabout, turn right
7
Sticklepath Hill
At roundabout, turn right
8
Western By Pass
At traffic lights, turn left
9
Braunton Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
10
Chaddiford Rd
At end of road, turn left
11
Braddiford
Turn right
12
Windsor Rd
At end of road, turn left
13
Braddiford
Turn left
14
Bellaire
Turn right
15
Northfield Park
Turn right
16
Northfield Park – Beech Grove
At end of road, turn left
17
Littabourne – Westaway Plain
At traffic lights, turn right
18
North Rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
19
Pilton Causeway
At roundabout, turn left
20
Inner Relief Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
21
Gaydon St
At roundabout, turn left
22
Barbican Rd
At roundabout, turn left
23
Eastern Ave
At roundabout, turn right
24
Hollowtree Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
25
Newport Rd
Turn right
26
Newport Rd
Turn right
27
Victoria St
At end of road, turn right
28
Victoria St
Turn right
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
3
Newport Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
4
South St
Turn left
5
Rumsam Rd
Turn right
6
Willowtree Rd
Turn right
7
Chichester Rd
Turn right
8
Bishops Tawton Rd
At roundabout, turn right
9
A361
At roundabout, go ahead
10
A361
At roundabout, turn right
11
Roundswell Link
At roundabout, turn right
12
Bickington Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
13
Sticklepath Hill
At roundabout, turn left
14
Western By Pass
At traffic lights, turn right
15
Braunton Rd
Turn left
16
Fair View
At traffic lights, turn right
17
St.Georges Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
18
Derby Rd
Turn left
19
Bicton St
At end of road, turn left
20
Goodleigh Rd
Turn right
21
Sowden Lane
At roundabout, turn right
22
Victoria Rd
At end of road, turn left
23
Eastern Ave
At roundabout, turn right
24
Hollowtree Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
25
Newport Rd
Turn right
26
Victoria St
At end of road, turn left
27
Victoria St
Turn left
F
DTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
Route & Road Guide
Road Type Split
Approximate breakdown based on road names and instructions across all 13 routes.
Residential
92%
A-Roads
8%
What to Expect at Barnstaple
- Roundabouts are a defining feature — averaging 8.3 per route. Route 5 is the most demanding with 12, including A361.
- Traffic lights feature heavily — Route 11 includes 8 sets. Approach speed, correct positioning and smooth pull-away are all assessed.
- Pass rate 53% — 5.1 points above the national average of 47.9%. One of the more achievable centres, though solid local route knowledge is still the best preparation.
- Key roads to know: Portmarsh Lane, Victoria Rd and A361 — these appear across the most routes and are the most likely to feature on your test.
- Route lengths range from 22 to 31 steps — practise all routes rather than focusing on one.
Tricky Spots on the Barnstaple Test
Junctions and road sections that appear frequently and catch learners out.
1
Busy Roundabout Sequences on A361 and A39
Many of the routes include back-to-back roundabouts along the A361 and A39, especially near Roundswell and Eastern Avenue. be sure to stay calm, look early for signs, and be ready to change your lane position if necessary. These sequences are all about timing and awareness, so don’t rush - use your mirrors and give way where required.
2
Mix of Urban and Residential Driving
From flowing dual carriageways to tighter turns in places like Whiddon Drive and Westfield Avenue, you'll experience a range of driving environments. Be mindful of the speed changes, watch for any pedestrians, and navigate the parked cars narrowing the road carefully. Smooth control is key.
3
Changing Road Priorities and Tight Junctions
Expect sharp lefts and rights at junctions like Rumsam Road, Vicarage Road, and Church Meadow. Some end-of-road turns will have reduced visibility, so always slow right down, look both ways, and commit confidently when it’s safe to do so.
4
Route Finishes Often Involve Town Centre Traffic
Most routes tend to finish with you heading back through busier town sections like Victoria Road or Portmarsh Lane. Keep your focus through the final few turns - watching for merging traffic, lane changes, and queues at traffic lights as you make your way back to the test centre.
Most Frequent Roads
These roads appear across the most routes — be sure to practise them.
| Road | Routes | Frequency | Typical Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portmarsh Lane | 12 / 13 | Right turn | |
| Victoria Rd | 12 / 13 | Roundabout | |
| A361 | 10 / 13 | Roundabout | |
| Newport Rd | 10 / 13 | Right turn | |
| Barbican Rd | 9 / 13 | Roundabout | |
| Victoria St | 9 / 13 | Left turn | |
| Western By Pass | 8 / 13 | Roundabout | |
| Sticklepath Hill | 7 / 13 | Roundabout | |
| Alexandra Rd | 6 / 13 | Roundabout | |
| Braunton rd | 6 / 13 | Left turn |
Roundabout Analysis
The routes include 108 roundabouts across 13 routes — these are the most important.
A361
High
Barbican Rd
High
Victoria Rd
High
Sticklepath Hill
High
Western By Pass
High
Alexandra Rd
Medium
Bedford St
Medium
Bickington Rd
Medium
Barnstaple Test Centre
Address
Barnstaple Driving Test Centre
Unit 1A, Benning Court (off Riverside Road), Pottington Industrial Estate, Barnstaple, EX31 1AB
Unit 1A, Benning Court (off Riverside Road), Pottington Industrial Estate, Barnstaple, EX31 1AB
Phone
Amenities
Disabled Access
Parking
Toilets
Tests Offered
Car
Motorcycle module 2
Opening Hours
- Mon 8:00–16:00
- Tue 8:00–16:00
- Wed 8:00–16:00
- Thu 8:00–16:00
- Fri 8:00–16:00
- Sat Closed
- Sun Closed
Pass Rate
53.0%
vs 47.9% national average
Waiting Time
18.1 wks
Latest DVSA data
Routes Available
13
Car, Motorcycle module 2
Avg Route Length
26
Steps (22–31 range)