This 7.1-mile, 28-minute route heads north through Beeston via Attenborough Lane and Cator Lane, climbing through Bramcote Hills to Derby Road, then follows Wollaton Road eastward before looping back through Beeston town centre. Speeds range from 20 to 40 mph with no dual carriageway. With 29 signals, 11 left turns, 8 right turns, and 6 U-turn points, it is one of the most demanding urban routes from Chilwell. Nearly identical to Route 703 in the Wollaton Road section, but takes a different approach via Cator Lane and Bramcote Avenue rather than School Lane and Bramcote Lane, and returns through Beeston via Bye Pass Road instead of Topliff Road.

Watch Out For

• Cator Lane hill. Steep uphill with parked cars narrowing the road. If you stop to give way, you will need a confident hill start. Keep the handbrake engaged until you are ready to move.
• Derby Road / Wollaton Road junction. Complex signal-controlled junction. Two lanes merge and split. Watch the overhead lane signs and position correctly before the lights change.
• Woodside Road. Narrow road near the university area with cyclists. Give at least 1.5 metres when passing cyclists, even if it means waiting behind them.
• Clifford Avenue. Residential street with 20 mph advisory near schools. Speed bumps and parked cars create a slow, technical section.
• Queens Road West. Busy B-road with frequent pedestrian crossings. Traffic queues at rush hour make progress slow. Stay patient and avoid blocking junctions.

Route Features

• 29 traffic signals and 19 standalone turns in 7.1 miles
• 5 school zones with 20 mph limits
• Hill driving on Cator Lane and Bramcote Avenue
• Entirely urban, no dual carriageway sections

Test Manoeuvres

• Pull up on the left near the test centre on Eldon Road

Key Tips

• This route is all about urban skills: junctions, signals, pedestrians, and parked cars. Stay focused throughout
• On Wollaton Road, keep to 30 mph and watch for the bus lane markings, as you must not drive in them during restricted hours
• The 6 U-turn waypoints suggest frequent changes of direction. Use the sat-nav display and listen for examiner instructions early