Near Gateshead test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 5 roundabouts, 17 turns and 6 signalled junctions across 27 navigation steps.
This is an independent 30.7 km practice loop near Gateshead test centre, taking roughly 40 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.
Along the way you'll meet Lobley Hill Interchange and Redheugh Bridge Roundabout. Knowing the approach, lane and exit at each one before you arrive is the difference between a planned manoeuvre and a last-second reaction, and last-second reactions are where avoidable faults come from.
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 independent driving. 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, named junctions, pubs and parks, 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 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 71-step drive on real, named roads (about 30.7 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.
A11.4 km
Take exit 68 onto A692/B6317/B1426 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1262 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A692/Lobley Hill Road.
Lobley Hill Interchange227 m
Exit the roundabout onto A692/Lobley Hill Road.
A692439 m
Take the exit on the right.
A69295 m
Keep left to stay on A692/Lobley Hill Road.
A692291 m
Turn left onto Alwinton Gardens.
Alwinton Gardens18 m
Turn left onto Consett Road.
Consett Road241 m
Turn left onto Cragside Gardens.
Cragside Gardens136 m
Turn left onto Rothbury Gardens.
Rothbury Gardens76 m
Turn right onto A692/Lobley Hill Road.
A692419 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 1st exit onto A1.
Lobley Hill Interchange49 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1.
A1153 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A14.1 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 4th exit towards A694/Gateshead.
133 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
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 Street104 m
Turn left onto Railway Street.
Railway Street397 m
Turn left 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.
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 Road228 m
Turn left onto Johnson Street.
Johnson Street128 m
Turn left onto Amberley Street.
Amberley Street120 m
Turn left onto Upton Street.
Upton Street162 m
Turn left onto Yetholm Road.
Yetholm Road128 m
Turn left onto Johnson Street.
Johnson Street128 m
Turn left onto Amberley Street.
Amberley Street120 m
Turn left onto Upton Street.
Upton Street162 m
Turn right onto Yetholm Road.
Yetholm Road100 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street614 m
Turn left onto Clockmill Road/A1114.
Clockmill Road509 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards Dunston.
53 m
Exit the roundabout towards Dunston.
Ellison Road1.1 km
Turn right onto Park Terrace.
Park Terrace1.3 km
Turn right onto Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive77 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead · Route 10 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.
Decide your lane and exit on the approach to each of these, get set up early.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near 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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Redheugh Bridge Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 14.7 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, 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.
Height for Hire
Start near Height for Hire.
SX Cars
Continue to SX Cars.
Lobley Hill Interchange
Continue to Lobley Hill Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Waggon Team
Continue to Waggon Team.
Nisa Local
Continue to Nisa Local.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota
Continue to Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota.
Wed2b
Continue to Wed2b.
Scattergood & Johnson Ltd
Continue to Scattergood & Johnson Ltd.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Redheugh Bridge Park
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Park.
Globe
Continue to Globe.
Bobby’s
Continue to Bobby’s.
Julie's Beauty
Continue to Julie's Beauty.
Tudor Rose
Continue to Tudor Rose.
St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School
Continue to St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School.
St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church
Continue to St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church.
Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church
Continue to Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church.
Dunston Hill Methodist Church
Continue to Dunston Hill Methodist Church.
Forcello
Finish back near Forcello, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 5 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 19 turns · 7 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 16 turns · 4 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 15 turns · 1 set of lights
This route is 30.7 km and takes about 40 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gateshead test centre, not an official DVSA route.