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Orkney Driving Test Routes

13 practice routes from The Kirkwall Auction Mart, Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall — step-by-step directions, roundabout breakdowns, and current app routes for your test.

13Routes
375Steps
112Left Turns
166Right Turns
62Roundabouts
0Lights
20 routes practised this month
Get Current Routes — App View Original Routes ↓

Original Published Test Routes

Step-by-step directions for all 13 original DVSA-published routes from The Kirkwall Auction Mart, Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall.

S
DTC
Start from test centre
2
Grainshore
At roundabout, turn left
3
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
4
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
5
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Harbour St / Shore St
At roundabout, go ahead
7
Cromwell Rd
Take the 2nd right
8
Mount Drive
At end of road, turn right
9
Weyland Tce
At end of road, turn left
10
East Rd
Turn right
11
Annfield Crescent
At end of road, turn left
12
Berstane Rd
Take the 3rd left
13
Reid Crescent
At end of road, turn left
14
Meadows
Turn right
15
Thoms St
Turn left
16
George St
At end of road, turn left
17
Dundas Crescent
Turn right
18
Clay Loan / Union St
At end of road, turn left
19
Junction Rd
Turn right
20
Wellington St / High St
Turn right
21
Glaitness Rd
At end of road, turn right
22
Old Scapa Rd
Turn right
23
Bloomfield Rd
Turn right
24
A965 / Glaitness Rd
At end of road, turn left
25
High St/ Wellington St
At end of road, turn right
26
New Scapa Rd
Turn left
27
Pipersquoy Rd
Take the 2nd left
28
Laverock Rd
At end of road, turn right
29
Clay loan
Turn left
30
Buttquoy Place
At end of road, turn left
31
Buttquoy Crescent
At end of road, turn right
32
Watergate
At end of road, turn left
33
Palace Rd / Broad St
Turn left
34
Castle St / West Castle St
At end of road, turn right
35
Burgh Rd
At roundabout, turn left
36
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, turn right
F
Grainshore
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
Grainshore
At roundabout, turn left
3
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
4
Harbour St / Shore St
At roundabout, turn right
5
St. Catherines Place
At end of road, turn right
6
East Rd/Queen St/King St/ School PL
Go ahead
7
Dundas Crescent
Turn right
8
Clay Loan
Turn left
9
Earl Thorfinn St / Quoybanks Crescent
Turn right
10
Kirklands Rd
At end of road, turn left
11
Pipersquoy Rd
At end of road, turn right
12
New Scapa Rd / Junction Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
13
Junction Rd
Take the 2nd right
14
Castle St
At end of road, turn right
15
Victoria St
Take the 1st right
16
Tankerness Lane
Go ahead
17
West Tankerness Lane
At end of road, turn left
18
Great Western Rd
At end of road, turn right
19
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn left
20
New Finstown Rd
Turn left
21
Sunnybank
At end of road, turn right
22
Old Finstown Rd
Turn right
23
Science Loan
At end of road, turn right
24
New Finstown Rd
Turn left
F
Grainshore
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
Grainshore
At roundabout, turn left
3
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Burgh Rd
Take the 3rd left
5
West Castle St
Take the 1st right
6
Junction Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
7
Junction Rd
Take the 3rd left
8
Pipersquoy Rd
Take the 2nd left
9
Laverock Rd
At end of road, turn right
10
Clay Loan
At end of road, turn right
11
Bignold Park Rd
Take the 2nd left
12
Inganess Rd
Take the 4th right
13
Single Track
At end of road, turn left
14
A960
Take the 1st right
15
Tradespark
At end of road, turn right
16
Holm Branch Rd
Take the 3rd right
17
Finstown Rd
Take the 3rd left
18
Quoybanks Crescent
Take the 2nd right
19
Craigie Crescent
At end of road, turn right
20
Quoybanks Crescent
Take the 1st left
21
Kirklands Rd
At end of road, turn left
22
Pipersquoy Rd
At end of road, turn right
23
Junction Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
24
Junction Rd
Take the 2nd right
25
Castle St
At end of road, turn right
26
BRd St
Take the 1st right
27
Victoria St
Take the 1st right
28
Tankerness Lane / W. Tankerness Lane
At end of road, turn left
29
Gt. Western Rd
At end of road, turn right
30
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn left
31
Finstown Rd
Turn right
F
Grainshore
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
Grainshore
At roundabout, go ahead
3
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Junction Rd
Turn right
5
Wellington St
Turn right
6
Glaitness Rd
Turn left
7
Bloomfield Rd
At end of road, turn left
8
To Kirkwall
Turn right
9
Scapa Beach
At end of road, turn left
10
New Scapa Rd
At end of road, turn left
11
New Scapa Rd
Turn right
12
Pipersquoy Rd
Turn left
13
Laverock Rd
At end of road, turn right
14
Clay Loan
At end of road, turn left
15
Dundas Crescent
Turn right
16
George St
At end of road, turn right
17
Dundas Crescent
Turn right
18
Thoms St
Turn left
19
Sclater St
Turn left
20
Willow Rd / Carters Park
At end of road, turn right
21
Berstane Rd
Turn left
22
Annfield Crescent
At end of road, turn left
23
East Rd
At end of road, turn right
24
East Rd / Queen St / School Place
At end of road, turn right
25
Palace Rd / Broad St
Turn left
26
Castle St
Go ahead
27
West Castle St
At end of road, turn right
28
Burgh Rd
At roundabout, turn left
29
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, turn right
30
Grainshore
Turn right
F
Auction mart
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
Grainshore
At roundabout, turn left
3
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Burgh Rd
Turn left
5
West Castle St
Go ahead
6
Castle St
At end of road, turn right
7
BRd St /Palace Rd
Turn right
8
Watergate
Turn left
9
Buttquoy Place
At end of road, turn right
10
Dundas Crescent / Bignold park Rd
Take the 3rd right
11
Holm Rd
Turn right
12
Quoybanks Crescent
Turn left
13
Kirklands Rd
At end of road, turn left
14
Pipersquoy Rd
At end of road, turn left
15
New Scapa Rd / Holm Branch Rd
Turn left
16
Tradespark
At end of road, turn left
17
To Kirkwall
Turn right
18
George St
At end of road, turn right
19
Thoms St
At end of road, turn left
20
Meadows
Turn right
21
Reid Crescent
At end of road
22
Berstane Rd
At end of road, turn right
23
East Rd
Turn right
24
St Catherines Place
At roundabout, turn left
25
Shore St / Harbour St
At roundabout, go ahead
26
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
27
Finstown Rd
Turn right
28
Crowness Crescent
At end of road, turn right
29
A965
Turn right
F
Grainshore
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
Grainshore
At roundabout, go ahead
3
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Junction Rd / New Scapa Rd
Follow
5
Holm Branch Rd
Turn left
6
Holm Rd
Turn right
7
Easdale Loan
At end of road, turn right
8
Deerness Rd
Turn left
9
Inganess Rd
At end of road, turn right
10
Bignold Park Rd
Turn right
11
Papdale Meadows
Turn left
12
Thoms St
Turn right
13
Sclater St
Turn left
14
Willow Rd / Willowburn Rd
At end of road, turn left
15
Berstane Rd / East Rd / Queen St / School Place
At end of road, turn right
16
Palace Rd / Broad St
Turn left
17
Castle St
Go ahead
18
West Castle St
At end of road, turn right
19
Burgh Rd
At roundabout, turn left
20
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
21
Finstown Rd
Turn right
22
Crowness Crescent
At end of road, turn right
23
Finstown Rd
Turn right
F
Grainshore
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
Grainshore
At roundabout, turn left
3
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
4
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
5
Harbour Rd / Shore St
At roundabout, go ahead
6
Cromwell Rd / East Hill
At end of road, turn left
7
Berstane Rd
Turn right
8
Carters Park / Willow Rd
Turn right
9
Garrioch St
At end of road, turn left
10
Thoms St
At end of road, turn right
11
Meadows
At end of road, turn right
12
Bignold Park Rd / Dundas Crescent
Turn right
13
George St
At end of road, turn left
14
Dundas Crescent
Turn right
15
Clay Loan / Union St
At end of road, turn right
16
Junction Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
17
Junction Rd
Turn right
18
Castle St
At end of road, turn right
19
BRd St / Palace Rd / Dundas Cres
Turn right
20
Buttquoy Cres
Turn left
21
Buttquoy Place
At end of road, turn right
22
Clay Loan
Turn left
23
Laverock Rd
At end of road, turn right
24
Pipersquoy Rd
At end of road, turn right
25
Junction Rd
Turn left
26
Glaitness Rd
Turn right
27
Sunnybank
At end of road, turn left
28
Finstown Rd
Turn right
F
Grainshore
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
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn right
3
Junction Rd
Turn left
4
Union St / Clay Loan
At end of road, turn right
5
Bignold Park Rd
Take the 3rd right
6
Ettsdale Loan
At end of road, turn left
7
Holm Rd
At end of road, turn right
8
Holm Branch Rd / New Scapa Rd
Take the 3rd right
9
Pipersquoy Rd
Turn left
10
Summerdale Rd
At end of road, turn right
11
Craigie Crescent
At end of road, turn left
12
Holm Rd
At end of road
13
Bignold Park Rd
Turn right
14
George St
At end of road, turn right
15
Dundas Crescent / Palace Rd / Broad St
Turn left
16
Castle St / West Castle St
At end of road, turn right
17
Great Western Rd
At roundabout, turn right
18
Ayre Rd / Harbour St
At roundabout, go ahead
19
Shore St
At roundabout, turn right
20
St. Catherine's Place
At end of road, turn right
21
Queen St / School Place
At end of road, turn left
22
Dundas Crescent
Turn left
23
Thomas St / Meadow
At end of road, turn left
24
Meadowbank
Take the 3rd right
25
Berstane Rd
At end of road, turn right
26
Airport Rd
Turn right
27
Tradespark
At end of road, turn right
28
Kirkwall / Holm Branch Rd
Turn left
29
Scapa Beach
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
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn right
3
Junction Rd
Turn left
4
Union St / Clay Loan
At end of road, turn right
5
Bignold Park Rd / A960
Turn left
6
Tankerness
Turn right
7
Jeweller
At end of road, turn right
8
Kirkwall
Turn left
9
Tradespark
At end of road, turn right
10
Kirkwall
At roundabout, turn right
11
Holm Rd
At end of road, turn right
12
Holm Branch Rd / New Scapa Rd
Take the 3rd right
13
Pipersquoy Rd
At end of road, turn right
14
Junction Rd
At roundabout, turn left
15
Pickaquoy Rd
Turn right
16
Great Western Rd
Take the 4th right
17
Burnmouth Rd
At end of road, turn right
18
Junction Rd
Turn left
19
Castle St
At end of road, turn right
20
Broad St / Palace Rd / Dundas Crescent
Take the 2nd right
21
Clay Loan
At end of road, turn right
22
Junction Rd
At roundabout, turn left
23
Tankerness West
At end of road, turn left
24
Great Western Rd
At end of road, turn right
25
Pickaquoy Rd
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
Car
Turn left
3
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Junction Rd / New Scapa Rd / Holm Branch Rd
Take the 2nd left
5
Holm Rd
Take the 2nd right
6
Easdale Rd
At end of road, turn right
7
Deerness Rd
Turn left
8
Single track road
At end of road, turn left
9
Inganess Rd
At end of road, turn right
10
Deerness Rd
Turn right
11
Papdale
Take the 3rd left
12
Meadowbank / Thoams St
Take the 2nd right
13
Slater St
Turn left
14
Willow Rd
Turn right
15
Willowburn Rd
At end of road, turn left
16
Berstane Rd / East Rd / Queen St / School Pl
At end of road, turn right
17
Palace Rd / Broad St
Turn left
18
Broad St
Turn left
19
Castle St
Turn right
20
Junction Rd
At roundabout, turn left
21
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, turn left
22
Sunny Bank
At end of road, turn left
23
Glaitness Rd
At end of road, turn right
24
Old Scapa Rd
Turn left
25
Scapa Beach
At end of road, turn left
26
Kirkwall
At end of road, turn left
27
New Scapa Rd / Junction Rd
At roundabout, 2nd exit, turn left
28
West Castle St
At end of road, turn left
29
Great Western Rd
At end of road, turn right
30
Pickaquoy Rd
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
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn left
3
Junction Rd / New Scapa Rd
At roundabout, turn right
4
Harbour St / Shore St
At roundabout, go ahead
5
Cromwell Rd
At end of road, turn left
6
Berstane Rd
Turn right
7
Park Rd
Turn right
8
Garriock St
At end of road, turn left
9
Meadowbank
At end of road, turn right
10
Meadows
At end of road, turn right
11
Dundas Crescent
Turn right
12
Clay Loan / Union St
At end of road, turn right
13
Junction Rd
At roundabout, 2nd exit, turn right
14
Castle St
At end of road, turn right
15
Broad St / Palace Rd / Dundas Crescent
Take the 2nd right
16
Buttquoy Crescent
Take the 2nd left
17
Buttquoy Place
At end of road, turn right
18
Clay Loan
Turn left
19
Laverock Rd
At end of road, turn right
20
Pipersquoy Rd
At end of road, turn right
21
New Scapa Rd
Turn left
22
Wellington St
Turn right
23
Glaitness Rd / Sunnybank Rd
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
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn right
3
Junction Rd
Take the 2nd right
4
Wellington St / Old Scapa Rd / A964
Turn right
5
Bloomfield Rd
At end of road, turn right
6
Kirkwall
Turn left
7
Sunnybank Rd
At end of road, turn left
8
A965 towards Finstown
Turn right
9
Grain Shore
Turn right
10
Crowness Crescent
At end of road, turn right
11
Grainshore
At end of road, turn left
12
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
13
Harbour Rd
At roundabout, go ahead
14
Shore St
At roundabout, turn right
15
St. Catherine's Place
At end of road, turn left
16
East Rd
Turn right
17
Berstane Rd
Turn right
18
Park Rd
Turn right
19
Garrioch St
At end of road, turn left
20
Meadowbank
At end of road, turn left
21
Meadows
At end of road, turn right
22
Bignold Park Rd / Dundas Crescent / Palace Rd / Broad St
Turn left
23
Castle St / West Castle St
At end of road, turn left
24
Great Western Rd
At end of road, turn right
25
Pickaquoy Rd
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
Pickaquoy Rd
At roundabout, turn right
3
Junction Rd / New Scapa Rd
Take the 2nd right
4
Scapa Beach
At end of road, turn right
5
Old Scapa Rd
Turn left
6
Glaitness Rd
At end of road, turn left
7
Wellington Rd
At end of road, turn left
8
Junction Rd
At roundabout, turn left
9
Pickaquoy Rd
Turn right
10
Great Western Rd
At roundabout, turn right
11
West Castle St / Castle St
At end of road, turn right
12
Broad St / Palace Road
Turn right
13
Watergate
Turn left
14
Buttquoy Crescent
At end of road, turn right
15
Bignold Park Rd
Take the 3rd right
16
Papdale
Turn right
17
Thomas St
Turn right
18
Meadowbank
Take the 2nd right
19
Slate St
Turn left
20
Willow Rd
Turn right
21
Willowburn Rd
At end of road, turn left
22
Berstane Rd / East Rd
Turn right
23
St Catherine's Place
At roundabout, turn left
24
Shore St / Harbour St
At roundabout, go ahead
25
Ayre Rd
At roundabout, turn right
26
Grain Shore
Turn right
27
Kirkwall / Sunnybank
At end of road, turn left
28
Graitness Rd
At end of road, turn left
29
Wellington St
At end of road, 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
98%
A-Roads
1%
Town / B-Roads
1%

What to Expect at Orkney

  • Roundabouts are a defining feature — averaging 4.8 per route. Route 1 is the most demanding with 7, including Ayre Rd.
  • Pass rate 64% — 16.1 points above the national average of 47.9%. One of the more achievable centres, though solid local route knowledge is still the best preparation.
  • Turn balance leans right — 166 right turns vs 112 left across all routes. Right turns and emerging onto busier roads are a consistent theme.
  • Routes vary significantly in length — from 24 to 37 steps. Route 1 is the most demanding overall; Route 6 the most straightforward.
  • Key roads to know: Junction Rd, Ayre Rd and Pickaquoy Rd — these appear across the most routes and are the most likely to feature on your test.

Tricky Spots on the Orkney Test

Junctions and road sections that appear frequently and catch learners out.

1
Grainshore, Ayre Road & Pickaquoy Road DTC Roundabout Network
The Grainshore, Ayre Road, and Pickaquoy Road roundabout network is used on every route. All 13 tests navigate this corridor at both the start and end - some routes use the Ayre Road chain in sequence with up to four consecutive roundabouts, while others approach via Pickaquoy Road. Required exits vary considerably, so confirm yours before arriving at the first island.
2
Junction Road Roundabout Complex
Junction Road and its roundabouts are used on 11 routes and form the main hub connecting Pickaquoy Road, New Scapa Road, and the town centre. Routes approach Junction Road from multiple directions and exit in many combinations - ahead, right, and left all occur across different tests. Approach at a speed that allows confident exit selection and signal clearly throughout.
3
Castle Street, Broad Street & Palace Road Town Centre Crossroads
Castle Street, Broad Street, and Palace Road form the historic town centre, used on nine routes. This area has no roundabouts - junctions are crossroads and end-of-road turns requiring full observation and correct priority assessment. Traffic can be slow here due to pedestrians and tourist footfall. Take your time, observe early, and do not rush give-ways.
4
Berstane Road, East Road & Queen Street Residential Area
Berstane Road, East Road, and Queen Street form a residential network used across seven routes. Junctions here are a mix of crossroads, priority roads, and end-of-road turns - read the road markings and signs carefully rather than assuming priority. Parked vehicles are common along these residential streets and can reduce sightlines at junctions.
5
Pipersquoy Road, Laverock Road & New Scapa Road South Loop
Pipersquoy Road, Laverock Road, and New Scapa Road form a residential loop south of the town centre used on nine routes. These roads feed back into Junction Road via a roundabout - confirm your required exit before arriving, as routes return to the DTC network via different directions. The Scapa Beach area nearby involves a coastal road where reduced visibility can make observation harder in poor weather.

Most Frequent Roads

These roads appear across the most routes — be sure to practise them.

RoadRoutesFrequencyTypical Feature
Junction Rd 11 / 13
Roundabout
Ayre Rd 10 / 13
Roundabout
Pickaquoy Rd 10 / 13
Roundabout
Castle St 9 / 13
Right turn
Pipersquoy Rd 9 / 13
Left turn
Grainshore 8 / 13
Roundabout
Berstane Rd 7 / 13
Right turn
Clay Loan 7 / 13
Left turn
Dundas Crescent 6 / 13
Right turn
Great Western Rd 6 / 13
Right turn

Roundabout Analysis

The routes include 62 roundabouts across 13 routes — these are the most important.

Ayre Rd
High
Roundabout features in 10 of 13 routes
Pickaquoy Rd
High
Roundabout features in 10 of 13 routes
Grainshore
High
Roundabout features in 7 of 13 routes
Junction Rd
High
Roundabout features in 6 of 13 routes
Burgh Rd
Medium
Roundabout features in 3 of 13 routes
Harbour St / Shore St
Medium
Roundabout features in 3 of 13 routes
Great Western Rd
Common
Roundabout features in 2 of 13 routes
New Scapa Rd / Junction Rd
Common
Roundabout features in 2 of 13 routes

Orkney Test Centre

Get Directions ↗  ·  Street View ↗
Address
Orkney Driving Test Centre
The Kirkwall Auction Mart, Hatston Industrial Estate, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1FL
Phone
0300 200 1122 DVSA general enquiries
Tests Offered
Car
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
64.0%
vs 47.9% national average
Waiting Time
wks
Latest DVSA data
Routes Available
13
Car
Avg Route Length
29
Steps (24–37 range)
Current Routes

Drive the Real Orkney Routes

The routes on this page are original published data. The app has current routes, verified through real research — with satnav navigation built in.

Satnav turn-by-turn navigation
Current verified routes
All 334 UK test centres
Drive on your phone
Regularly updated
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Nearby Test Centres
Wick
38.0 miles away
59.0% pass
Wick
38.0 miles away
59.0% pass
Thurso
40.6 miles away
60.0% pass
Thurso
40.6 miles away
60.0% pass
Golspie
88.1 miles away
77.0% pass
Golspie
88.1 miles away
77.0% pass
Driving Test Routes App

The routes above are a great starting point for getting to know Orkney's roads. When you're ready to practice properly, the app gives you current verified routes with full satnav navigation.

Current verified routes Satnav navigation All UK centres iOS & Android
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