Near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 20 turns and 7 signalled junctions across 31 navigation steps.
This is an independent 74.9 km practice route near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre, taking roughly 45 min to drive. It is NOT an official DVSA examiner route, the DVSA does not publish those, but it uses the same local roads and junction types an examiner is likely to choose.
On this route you’ll practise multiple roundabouts, dual-carriageway joins, national-speed roads, 20 mph zones, changing speed limits, residential manoeuvres, busy a-roads and sustained concentration. Driving it a few times before your test builds the muscle memory that frees up attention for observation and decision-making on the day.
The loop is anchored by 20 catalogued landmarks, including shops, parks, churches and pubs, so you can navigate it from recognisable features rather than a memorised turn list. Rehearsing it in this way means that on test day the area already feels familiar, and your attention is free for the traffic rather than the map.
Whatever the route, your practical test follows the same national shape: an eyesight check, a couple of vehicle-safety questions, around forty minutes of general driving, one reversing manoeuvre chosen by the examiner, and roughly twenty minutes of independent driving following signs or a sat-nav. Practising on roads like these is how you make each of those elements feel routine rather than new.
Treat this route as practice, not a script. The value is not in repeating one fixed sequence but in getting comfortable with the road types, speed changes and junction patterns of the area around Gateshead (Elswick) test centre, so that whatever order your examiner chooses on the day, none of it is unfamiliar. Drive it a few times, focus on smooth observation and planning, and it becomes one more stretch of road you already know, which is exactly the kind of preparation that turns nerves into confidence.
If you are practising with a supervising driver rather than an instructor, take it steadily: agree the manoeuvre spots in advance, keep to a comfortable pace, and stop to talk through anything that felt rushed. And remember the basics that apply on every road, mirrors before any change of speed or direction, signals in good time, and a following distance that gives you room to react. Those habits travel with you long after the test is passed.
What you’ll actually do on this loop, counted from its turn-by-turn directions.
This route helps you practise:
Road mix
The full 161-step drive on real, named roads (about 74.8 km). An indicative practice loop, not an official DVSA route — the roads and junctions are real, the sequence is a rehearsal.
Drive northeast.
14 m
Turn right.
15 m
Turn left onto Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive29 m
Turn right to stay on Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive77 m
Turn left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road917 m
Take the A1 exit.
A1577 m
Take exit 69 onto A184 towards Central Newcastle/Central Gateshead.
A1842.0 km
Keep right to take A189.
A1891.2 km
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road136 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road386 m
Turn left onto Dunn Street.
Dunn Street64 m
Turn right onto Penn Street.
Penn Street760 m
Turn left onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road351 m
Turn right.
37 m
Turn right.
88 m
Turn left onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road299 m
Turn left onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road389 m
Turn left onto William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive973 m
Turn right onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road2.0 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
66 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road4.0 km
Turn left onto Scotswood Bridge/A695.
Scotswood Bridge326 m
Keep left to take A694.
Derwenthaugh Road615 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way72 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way500 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
119 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114769 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Mandela Way.
6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Mandela Way.
Mandela Way372 m
Turn left to stay on Mandela Way.
Mandela Way585 m
Turn left onto Handy Drive/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A11141.1 km
Turn right.
32 m
Turn right onto Beresford Street.
Beresford Street74 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Beresford Street.
Beresford Street74 m
Turn right.
43 m
Turn left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road41 m
Move right onto Ravensworth Road.
Ravensworth Road603 m
Turn right onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road699 m
Turn right onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace647 m
Turn left.
55 m
Turn right onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road282 m
Take the A1 exit.
A1577 m
Take exit 69 onto A184 towards Central Newcastle/Central Gateshead.
A1842.0 km
Take the Redheugh Bridge Roundabout exit.
A184237 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A184.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout280 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184.
A18424 m
Keep right to stay on A184.
A184284 m
Continue on A184.
A1841.5 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A13.8 km
Take exit 73 onto A694 towards Consett/Newcastle/Blaydon.
470 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A694.
34 m
Exit the roundabout onto A694.
A694336 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A695/Blaydon/Newcastle.
51 m
Exit the roundabout towards A695/Blaydon/Newcastle.
A694391 m
Continue on A695.
A6951.7 km
Enter Blaydon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Bridge Street/B6317.
Blaydon Roundabout120 m
Exit the roundabout onto Bridge Street/B6317. Continue on B6317.
B63171.3 km
Turn right onto Haugh Lane.
Haugh Lane274 m
Turn right onto King Oswald Drive.
King Oswald Drive143 m
Turn right onto Derwent Water Drive.
Derwent Water Drive17 m
Turn left to stay on Derwent Water Drive.
Derwent Water Drive65 m
Turn left to stay on Derwent Water Drive.
Derwent Water Drive186 m
Turn left onto Battle View.
Battle View83 m
Turn left onto King Oswald Drive.
King Oswald Drive341 m
Turn left onto Newburn Bridge Road.
Newburn Bridge Road274 m
Turn left onto Stella Road/B6317. Continue on B6317.
B63171.4 km
Enter Blaydon Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Roundabout17 m
Exit the roundabout onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Highway1.4 km
Keep right to take A694.
A694777 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards A694/Gateshead.
59 m
Exit the roundabout towards A694/Gateshead.
A694341 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit.
47 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15.
A13.4 km
Take exit 69 onto A184 towards Central Newcastle/Central Gateshead.
A1842.0 km
Take the Redheugh Bridge Roundabout exit.
A184237 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 4th exit onto A184.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout280 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184.
A18424 m
Keep right to stay on A184.
A184284 m
Continue on A184.
A1841.5 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1821 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
360 m
Turn right onto Dunston Interchange.
Dunston Interchange620 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road527 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street129 m
Turn right onto Johnson Street.
Johnson Street85 m
Turn right.
113 m
Turn left onto Church Street.
Church Street97 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road121 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn right onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114291 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street614 m
Turn right onto Yetholm Road.
Yetholm Road100 m
Turn left onto Upton Street.
Upton Street162 m
Turn right onto Amberley Street.
Amberley Street120 m
Turn right onto Johnson Street.
Johnson Street128 m
Turn right onto Yetholm Road.
Yetholm Road228 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street614 m
Turn left onto Clockmill Road/A1114.
Clockmill Road509 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road684 m
Stay straight to take the A184 ramp.
A184703 m
Take the Redheugh Bridge Roundabout exit.
A184237 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Askew Road West.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West143 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Cuthbert Street.
15 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street333 m
Turn left onto Bensham Road/B1426.
Bensham Road737 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A184/West Central Route.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/West Central Route.
A184485 m
Take the A184 exit.
A184863 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A189.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout225 m
Exit the roundabout towards A189.
A189865 m
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road136 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road386 m
Turn left onto Dunn Street.
Dunn Street360 m
Turn left onto Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road615 m
Turn left onto Shot Factory Lane.
Shot Factory Lane158 m
Turn left onto Arena Way.
Arena Way290 m
Move left.
14 m
Turn right.
190 m
Make a right U-turn.
190 m
Turn left.
14 m
Move right onto Arena Way.
Arena Way290 m
Turn right onto Shot Factory Lane.
Shot Factory Lane158 m
Turn left onto Skinnerburn Road.
Skinnerburn Road462 m
Turn left onto Forth Banks/B1600. Continue on B1600.
B1600412 m
Move left onto Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street312 m
Turn right onto Plummer Street/A695.
Plummer Street72 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road394 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road397 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road69 m
Keep right to stay on Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road54 m
Move right to stay on Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road11 m
Turn right onto St James' Boulevard/A189.
A1892.8 km
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1821 m
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
378 m
Move left onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace196 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road82 m
Turn left onto Gunn Street.
Gunn Street81 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Gunn Street.
Gunn Street81 m
Turn right onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road82 m
Turn right onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace308 m
Turn right to take the A1 ramp.
A1565 m
Take exit 69 onto A184 towards Central Newcastle/Central Gateshead.
A1842.0 km
Keep right to take A189.
A1891.2 km
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road136 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
22 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road1.1 km
Turn left onto William Armstrong Drive.
William Armstrong Drive109 m
Turn left onto Monarch Road.
Monarch Road389 m
Turn right onto Amethyst Road.
Amethyst Road351 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead (Elswick) · Route 18 loop. Always drive to the road and conditions you see, not the list — signs, signals and other traffic take priority.
These are the real named features along the loop, straight from our route catalogue. Use them to recognise where you are and to anticipate the hazard each one brings, not to memorise a fixed order.
Expect busier traffic, pick-ups and pedestrians around these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
Pedestrian crossings and parked cars are common nearby.
Easy landmarks to navigate the loop by.
Frequent stop-start traffic and pedestrians, keep your speed down.
Multiple roundabouts
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 25.4 km of this loop is dual carriageway. Build your speed on the slip road, take an effective rearward observation, and merge without forcing other traffic to brake.
Changing speed limits
Limits change across this route (20, 30, 40, 50, 70 mph). Watch for repeater signs and adjust early, examiners mark you down for carrying the wrong speed into a new limit.
Residential streets
Narrow residential roads mean parked cars, pedestrians and reduced visibility. Cover the brake, keep your speed down and be ready to give way.
Navigate by these 20 catalogued landmarks rather than a memorised turn list, an indicative loop, not an official DVSA route.
Artificial Grass North East
Start near Artificial Grass North East.
Redheugh Bridge Park
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Park.
Riverside News
Continue to Riverside News.
Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls
Continue to Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls.
Arnold Clark - Ford
Continue to Arnold Clark - Ford.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
CostCo Fuel
Continue to CostCo Fuel.
Saint Nicholas With Christ Church
Continue to Saint Nicholas With Christ Church.
R & C Motor Co Ltd
Continue to R & C Motor Co Ltd.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Kingdom Hall
Continue to Kingdom Hall.
Black Bull
Continue to Black Bull.
Blaydon
Continue to Blaydon.
Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota
Continue to Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota.
Alpkit
Continue to Alpkit.
Scattergood & Johnson Ltd
Continue to Scattergood & Johnson Ltd.
Tudor Rose
Continue to Tudor Rose.
Gateshead
Continue to Gateshead.
Mosaic tap
Continue to Mosaic tap.
Bobby’s
Finish back near Bobby’s, completing the loop.
5 roundabouts · 25 turns · 6 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 22 turns · 8 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 23 turns · 8 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 22 turns · 8 sets of lights
This route is 74.9 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gateshead (Elswick) test centre, not an official DVSA route.