Original Published Test Routes
Step-by-step directions for all 10 original DVSA-published routes from Port Road Business Park, Port Road, Carlisle.
S
MDTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Rd
At roundabout, turn left
3
Church Rd
Turn right
4
Shaddongate
At traffic lights, turn left
5
Junction St
At traffic lights, go ahead
6
Charlotte St
At traffic lights, go ahead
7
Nelson Bridge
At traffic lights, go ahead
8
Viaduct
Go ahead
9
Devonshire St
Turn left
10
Lowther St
Turn right
11
Victoria Place
Turn left
12
Georgian Way
At roundabout, 2nd exit, go ahead
13
Scotland Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
14
Beechwood Avenue
Turn left
15
Lansdowne Cresent
Turn right
16
Beechwood Rd
At end of road, turn right
17
Beechgrove
Road continues
18
Tarraby Lane
Turn left
19
Larch Drive
Turn left
20
Tarraby Lane
At end of road, turn left
21
Well Lane
At end of road, turn left
22
Brampton Rd
Turn right
23
Langlands
Turn left
24
Brampton Rd
Turn left
25
Stanwix Bank
At roundabout, turn right
26
Castle Way
At roundabout, turn right
27
Port Rd
Turn right
28
Port Road Business Park
Turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MPTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Rd
At roundabout, turn left
3
Bridge St
Road continues
4
Castle Way
At roundabout, turn left
5
Stanwix Bank
At traffic lights, turn left
6
Etterby St
Take the 2nd right
7
Eden St
At end of road, turn right
8
Etterby Scaur
Turn right
9
Belah Rd
At end of road, turn right
10
Bracken Ridge
At end of road, turn left
11
Dene Crescent
At end of road, turn right
12
Briar Bank
At traffic lights, turn right
13
Scotland Rd
Turn left
14
Landsdowne Crescent
Turn right
15
Knowe Rd
At end of road, turn right
16
Church St
Turn left
17
Scotland Rd
At roundabout, turn right
18
Castle Way
At traffic lights, turn left
19
Shaddongate
Road continues
20
Dalston Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
21
Stanhope St
At end of road, turn left
22
Wigton Rd
Take the 2nd right
23
Bower St
At end of road, turn right
24
Port Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
25
Port Rd Business Park
Turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MPTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
3
Bridge St
At traffic lights, turn right
4
Shaddongate
Road continues
5
Dalston Rd
Take the 3rd left
6
Nelson St
Turn right
7
James St
At roundabout, turn left
8
Norfolk St
Turn right
9
Richardson St
At end of road, turn left
10
Dalston Rd
Turn right
11
Woodend Drive
At end of road, turn right
12
Levens Rd
At end of road, turn left
13
Langrigg Drive
At end of road, turn right
14
Stonegarth
At end of road, turn left
15
Wigton Rd
Turn right
16
Queensway
Take the 2nd left
17
Hebden Avenue
At end of road, turn left
18
Queensway
At end of road, turn left
19
Orton Rd
Turn right
20
Sandfield Rd
At end of road, turn right
21
Moorhouse Rd
Turn right
F
Acredale Rd
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
Green Lane
Start from test centre
2
Beaver Rd
At end of road, turn right
3
Moorhouse Rd
Road continues
4
Port Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
5
Port Rd Business Park
Turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MPTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Rd
At roundabout, turn right
3
Wigton Rd
At traffic lights, turn right
4
Orton Rd
Take the 2nd left
5
Crosshill Drive
Turn left
6
Inglewood Crescent
At end of road, turn left
7
Crosshill Drive
At end of road, turn right
8
Queensway
Take the 2nd left
9
Hebden Avenue
At end of road, turn left
10
Queensway
At end of road, turn left
11
Orton Rd
Take the 2nd left
12
Peter Lane
Turn left
13
Wigton Rd
Take the 3rd right
14
Stonegarth
Take the 3rd right
15
Langrigg Rd
At end of road, turn right
16
Dunmail Drive
At end of road, turn left
17
Dalston Rd
Turn left
18
John St
At end of road, turn left
19
Church St
At roundabout, turn right
20
Port Rd
Turn right
21
Port Rd Business Park
Turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MPTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Road
At end of road, turn left
3
Port Road
At roundabout, go ahead
4
Bridge street
Road continues
5
Castleway
At roundabout, turn left
6
Eden bridges
Road continues
7
Stanwix Bank
At traffic lights, turn right
8
Brampton Road
Take the 2nd left
9
Well Lane
Take the 1st right
10
Tarraby lane
Road continues
11
Beach grove
Take the 2nd left
12
Knowfield Avenue
At traffic lights, turn right
13
Scotland road
Road continues
14
Kingstown Rd
At traffic lights, turn left
15
Lowery Hill Road
At end of road, turn left
16
Kingstown road
At roundabout, 3rd exit, turn right
17
A689
Take the 1st right
18
Houghton Road
At end of road, turn right
19
Whiteclosegate
Road continues
20
Brampton rd
At traffic lights, go ahead
21
Stanwix Bank
Road continues
22
Eden Bridge
At roundabout, turn right
23
Castleway
Road continues
24
Bridge street
At roundabout, turn right
25
Port Road
Turn right
26
Port Road Business Park
Turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MPTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Road Business Park
At end of road
3
Port Road
Turn right
4
Newtown Rd
Turn right
5
Moorpark Ave
At end of road, turn left
6
Moorhouse Rd
Turn right
7
Beck Rd
At end of road, turn right
8
Green Lane
At end of road, turn right
9
Kirkstead Rd
At end of road, turn left
10
Moorhouse Rd
Turn left
11
Sandsfield Rd
At end of road, turn left
12
Orton Rd
Take the 2nd right
13
Queensway
Take the 2nd right
14
Hebden Rd
At end of road, turn right
15
Queensway
At end of road, turn left
16
Wigton Rd
Take the 2nd right
17
Dunmail Dr
At end of road, turn left
18
Dalston Rd
Take the 2nd right
19
Nelson Rd
Take the 2nd left
20
Blencowe St
Road continues
21
Lorne Crescent
At traffic lights, turn left
22
Junction St
At end of road, turn right
23
Shaddongate
At end of road, turn left
24
John St
At end of road, turn left
25
Church St
At roundabout, turn right
26
Port Rd
Turn right
27
Port Rd Business Park
Turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MPTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Road Business Park
At end of road, turn right
3
Port Rd
Road continues
4
Newtown Rd
Road continues
5
Moorhouse Rd
Turn left
6
Beaver Rd
At end of road, turn right
7
Green Lane
Take the 4th right
8
Keld Rd
At end of road, turn left
9
Green Lane
Take the 3rd left
10
Crown Rd
At end of road, turn left
11
Moorhouse Rd
Take the 4th left
12
Sandsfield Rd
At end of road, turn right
13
Orton Rd
Turn left
14
Newby West Rd
At end of road, turn left
15
Wigton Road (A595)
Turn right
16
Westrigg Rd
At end of road, turn right
17
Newlaiths Avenue
Turn left
18
Levens Drive
Turn left
19
Woodend Drive
Turn left
20
Dalston Rd
Road continues
21
Shaddongate
Turn left
22
John St
Turn left
23
Bridge St
At roundabout, go ahead
24
Wigton Rd
Turn right
25
Bower St
At end of road, turn right
26
Port Rd
Take the 4th left
27
Port Road Business Park
Turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MPTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Road Business Park
At end of road, turn right
3
Port Rd
Road continues
4
Newtown Rd
Road continues
5
Moorhouse Rd
Turn right
6
Moor Park Avenue
Turn left
7
Grinsdale Avenue
At end of road, turn right
8
Moor Park Avenue
At end of road, turn right
9
Moorhouse Rd
Take the 2nd left
10
Sandsfield Rd
Turn left
11
Housesteads Rd
Road continues
12
Holmrook Rd
Turn right
13
Hutton Way
Turn right
14
Orton Rd
Turn left
15
Queensway
Turn left
16
Crosshill Drive
Turn left
17
Queensway
Turn left
18
Wigton Rd (A 595)
At traffic lights, turn right
19
Dunmail Drive
Turn left
20
Borrowdale Rd
At end of road, turn right
21
Ullswater Rd
At end of road, turn left
22
Greta Avenue
At end of road, turn right
23
Bedford Rd
At end of road, turn left
24
Dalston Rd
Take the 2nd left
25
Stanhope Rd
At end of road, turn left
26
Wigton Rd
Take the 2nd right
27
Bower St
Turn right
28
Port Rd
Take the 4th left
29
Port Business Park
At end of road, turn right
F
MPTC
Return to test centre
This route is based on older published data. Get the current verified version on the app — with satnav navigation.
S
MDTC
Start from test centre
2
Port Road Business Park
At end of road, turn left
3
Caldcotes
At roundabout, turn right
4
Wigton Rd
Take the 3rd left
5
Stanhope Rd
At end of road, turn right
6
Dalston Rd
Turn right
7
Bedford Avenue
Turn left
8
Skiddaw Rd
At end of road, turn left
9
Dunmail Drive
Turn right
10
Langrigg Rd
Take the 3rd left
11
Levens Drive
Turn left
12
Woodend Drive
At end of road, turn right
13
Dalston Rd
Turn right
14
Peter Lane
At end of road, turn right
15
Wigton Rd
Turn right
16
Westrigg Rd
Take the 2nd left
17
Castlerigg Drive
At end of road, turn left
18
Stonegarth
At end of road, turn left
19
Wigton Rd
Take the 2nd right
20
Queensway
At end of road, turn right
21
Orton Rd
Turn left
22
Hutton Way
At end of road, turn left
23
Holmrook Rd
Road continues
24
Housesteads Rd
At end of road, turn right
25
Sandsfield Rd
At end of road, turn right
26
Moorhouse Rd
Road continues
27
Newtown Rd
Road continues
28
Port Rd
Turn left
29
Port Rd Business Park
At end of road, turn right
F
MPTC
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 10 routes.
Residential
100%
What to Expect at Carlisle
- Pass rate 59% — 11.1 points above the national average of 47.9%. One of the more achievable centres, though solid local route knowledge is still the best preparation.
- Traffic lights feature heavily — Route 1 includes 5 sets. Approach speed, correct positioning and smooth pull-away are all assessed.
- Routes vary significantly in length — from 6 to 30 steps. Route 1 is the most demanding overall; Route 4 the most straightforward.
- Key roads to know: Port Rd, Dalston Rd and Wigton Rd — these appear across the most routes and are the most likely to feature on your test.
- 19 roundabout encounters across all routes — relatively few compared to many UK centres, but correct lane discipline still matters.
Tricky Spots on the Carlisle Test
Junctions and road sections that appear frequently and catch learners out.
1
Roundabout Positioning on Bridge St
Bridge St features on multiple routes and demands confident lane positioning well before you reach the give way line. Check your mirrors early, signal clearly and commit to your exit — wavering at the last moment is one of the most common reasons for picking up faults here.
2
Staying Sharp on A689
You will spend significant time on A689 during your test, so it is worth getting familiar with its layout in advance. Speed limit changes, busy side roads and parked cars all demand consistent observation — this is not a road to switch off on.
3
Turning onto Beach grove
Turning at Beach grove can feel pressured if there is traffic behind you, but it is important to wait for a safe gap. Examiners are not marking you on speed — they are marking you on observation, correct positioning and smooth execution, so take the time you need.
4
Confident Exits at Bridge street
The Bridge street junction features across several Carlisle routes and is a place where exam nerves can cause candidates to rush. Stay composed, check right before entering, position carefully and remember that giving way here is never marked as a fault.
Most Frequent Roads
These roads appear across the most routes — be sure to practise them.
| Road | Routes | Frequency | Typical Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Rd | 9 / 10 | Left turn | |
| Dalston Rd | 7 / 10 | Right turn | |
| Wigton Rd | 7 / 10 | Right turn | |
| Moorhouse Rd | 6 / 10 | Left turn | |
| Orton Rd | 6 / 10 | Left turn | |
| Port Road Business Park | 6 / 10 | Right turn | |
| Port Rd Business Park | 5 / 10 | Right turn | |
| Queensway | 5 / 10 | Left turn | |
| Shaddongate | 5 / 10 | Left turn | |
| Newtown Rd | 4 / 10 | Straight ahead |
Roundabout Analysis
The routes include 19 roundabouts across 10 routes.
Port Rd
Medium
Castle Way
Common
Church St
Common
Carlisle Test Centre
Address
Carlisle Driving Test Centre
Port Road Business Park, Port Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7AF
Port Road Business Park, Port Road, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 7AF
Phone
0300 200 1122
DVSA general enquiries
Amenities
Disabled Access
Parking
Toilets
Tests Offered
Car
Motorcycle module 1
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
59.0%
vs 47.9% national average
Waiting Time
11.9 wks
Latest DVSA data
Routes Available
10
Car, Motorcycle module 1, Motorcycle module 2
Avg Route Length
25
Steps (6–30 range)