An 8.7-mile, 27-minute route through Beeston, Lenton Abbey, Wollaton Vale, Bramcote Hills, Bramcote, Stapleford, and Toton. Mainly 30 mph with 40 mph on Wollaton Vale and a brief 70 mph section on Brian Clough Way. Features 5 roundabouts and 30 traffic signals, combining the signal-heavy Beeston town centre with the winding residential roads around Bramcote Hills. Comparable in length to routes 686 and 694 but with more roundabouts and a wider variety of road types.

Watch Out For

• Middle Street, Beeston. A narrow road with parked cars on both sides. Use the MSM routine before passing each obstacle and watch for doors opening.
• Wollaton Vale. A winding 40 mph road with residential side roads. The road curves frequently, so position carefully and anticipate oncoming traffic on bends.
• Woodbank Drive to Bramcote Lane. Quiet residential streets with speed humps. Maintain a steady speed over the humps and check for pedestrians at each one.
• Brian Clough Way approaching the A52. The speed increases to 70 mph briefly. Accelerate decisively and check mirrors before joining the faster flow.
• Woodside Road, Lenton Abbey. A winding road between Beeston and the university area. Limited visibility on bends with parked cars narrowing the road.

Route Features

• 5 roundabouts including Swiney Way and the one near Bye Pass Road
• 30 traffic signals, concentrated in Beeston town centre
• 6 school zones along the Beeston and Bye Pass Road corridor
• Mixed driving: town centre, winding residential, brief dual carriageway

Test Manoeuvres

• Pull up on the left near Eldon Road. Select a safe spot with good visibility ahead and behind. Full mirror check before stopping and before moving off.

Key Tips

• Wollaton Vale is deceptively fast. The 40 mph limit is appropriate but the bends require you to slow below it at times. Read the road, not just the signs.
• The Beeston section has 30 traffic lights in succession. Stay patient and avoid jumping lights that appear to be changing.
• The 5 roundabouts are spread across the route. Each has different traffic levels, so adapt your approach speed accordingly.