Near Gateshead test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 7 roundabouts, 15 turns and 1 signalled junction across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 79.4 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 Newcastle Airport 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, 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 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 165-step drive on real, named roads (about 79.4 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.
396 m
Turn left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road648 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn left onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A11141.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1114.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1114.
A1114770 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way493 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way83 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A695/Blaydon/Newcastle.
94 m
Exit the roundabout towards A695/Blaydon/Newcastle.
A694391 m
Take the A695 exit.
Scotswood Bridge479 m
Turn left towards A191/Morpeth.
Scotswood Road325 m
Keep right to stay on A191.
A19189 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1.
62 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15.
A14.2 km
Take exit 77 onto A696/A167 towards Jedburgh/City Centre.
A1422 m
Enter Kenton Bar Interchange and take the 1st exit towards A696/Jedburgh/Ponteland.
Kenton Bar Interchange4 m
Exit the roundabout towards A696/Jedburgh/Ponteland.
A6964.6 km
Enter Newcastle Airport Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A696/Ponteland Road.
Newcastle Airport Roundabout33 m
Exit the roundabout onto A696/Ponteland Road.
A696336 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A696/Ponteland Road.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto A696/Ponteland Road.
A696563 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A696/Cheviot View.
37 m
Exit the roundabout onto A696/Cheviot View. Continue on A696.
A6961.6 km
Turn left onto Darras Road.
Darras Road111 m
Turn right onto Riverside.
Riverside163 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Riverside.
Riverside163 m
Turn left onto Darras Road.
Darras Road111 m
Turn right onto A696/West Road. Continue on A696.
A6961.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A696/Ponteland Road.
40 m
Exit the roundabout onto A696/Ponteland Road.
A696552 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A696/Ponteland Road.
46 m
Exit the roundabout onto A696/Ponteland Road.
A696335 m
Enter Newcastle Airport Roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards City Centre.
Newcastle Airport Roundabout61 m
Exit the roundabout towards City Centre.
A6964.5 km
Enter Kenton Bar Interchange and take the 4th exit onto A1.
Kenton Bar Interchange256 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15.
A15.4 km
Take exit 73 onto A694 towards Consett/Whickham/Swalwell.
296 m
Keep left to take A694 towards Blaydon.
154 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto A694.
25 m
Exit the roundabout onto A694.
A694336 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
91 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 1st exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114769 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1114.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1114.
A1114539 m
Turn left onto Mandela Way.
Mandela Way585 m
Turn right to stay on Mandela Way.
Mandela Way374 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto A1114.
61 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1114.
A1114770 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way493 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114.
Riverside Way83 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 5th exit towards A694/Gateshead.
176 m
Exit the roundabout towards A694/Gateshead.
A694341 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards A694/Consett/Morpeth.
11 m
Exit the roundabout towards A694/Consett/Morpeth.
A694577 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Rowlands Gill/Consett.
17 m
Exit the roundabout towards Rowlands Gill/Consett.
A6941.8 km
Turn right onto Noel Avenue.
Noel Avenue388 m
Turn left onto Naylor Avenue.
Naylor Avenue282 m
Turn left onto Noel Avenue.
Noel Avenue12 m
Turn right onto May Avenue.
May Avenue206 m
Turn left onto Mundle Avenue.
Mundle Avenue60 m
Turn left onto June Avenue.
June Avenue214 m
Turn left onto Noel Avenue.
Noel Avenue247 m
Turn left onto A694.
A6941.8 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Derwent Haugh Road/A694.
24 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwent Haugh Road/A694. Continue on A694.
A694555 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A694.
70 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
Take the A695 exit.
Scotswood Bridge479 m
Keep right to take A695 towards Newcastle.
Scotswood Road1.8 km
Turn left onto Whitehouse Road/B1305.
Whitehouse Road172 m
Turn right to stay on B1305.
B1305143 m
Turn right onto Buddle Road.
Buddle Road708 m
Turn left onto Saint John's Road.
Saint John's Road371 m
Turn right onto Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road247 m
Move right to stay on Elswick Road/B1311.
Elswick Road458 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane226 m
Move right onto Sceptre Street.
Sceptre Street328 m
Move left onto Gloucester Road.
Gloucester Road192 m
Turn right onto Westgate Road/A186.
Westgate Road999 m
Turn right onto St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard489 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A1891.8 km
Take the exit.
263 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A111449 m
Turn left onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road630 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Dunston.
30 m
Exit the roundabout towards Dunston.
Ellison Road430 m
Turn right onto Ravensworth Road.
Ravensworth Road397 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street164 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street184 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road121 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn right onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114800 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
Keep right to take A189.
A1891.2 km
Move left onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road136 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Plummer Street/A695.
1 m
Exit the roundabout onto Plummer Street/A695.
Plummer Street58 m
Turn left onto Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street314 m
Move right onto Forth Street/B1600. Continue on B1600.
B1600443 m
Turn left onto Hanover Street.
Hanover Street294 m
Turn right onto Hanover Square.
Hanover Square47 m
Move left onto Clavering Place.
Clavering Place58 m
Turn left onto Forth Street.
Forth Street612 m
Turn right onto Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street96 m
Turn left onto Scotswood Road/A189.
Scotswood Road226 m
Move left to stay on A189.
A1891.7 km
Take the exit.
263 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A111449 m
Turn left onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road630 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit towards Dunston.
30 m
Exit the roundabout towards Dunston.
Ellison Road430 m
Turn right onto Ravensworth Road.
Ravensworth Road397 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street164 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street184 m
Turn left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road527 m
Turn left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road622 m
Turn right to take the A1 ramp.
A12.1 km
Take exit 72 onto B6317 towards Swalwell/Whickham.
A1350 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Hexham Road/B6317.
42 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hexham Road/B6317.
Hexham Road705 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Shibdon Road/B6317.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto Shibdon Road/B6317.
Shibdon Road916 m
Turn left onto Shibdon Bank.
Shibdon Bank1.4 km
Turn left onto Commercial Street.
Commercial Street98 m
Turn left onto Florence Street.
Florence Street137 m
Turn left onto Clara Street.
Clara Street146 m
Turn right onto Tyne Street.
Tyne Street1.3 km
Turn right onto Shibdon Road/B6317.
Shibdon Road915 m
Turn left onto Derwent Haugh Road/A694. Continue on A694.
A694546 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A694.
70 m
Exit the roundabout onto A694.
A694336 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
91 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 1st exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
3 m
Exit the roundabout onto Riverside Way/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114769 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A1114.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1114.
A11141.2 km
Turn right onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road210 m
Turn left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road491 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn left onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114644 m
Turn left onto St Omers Road.
St Omers Road295 m
Turn right.
298 m
Turn right onto Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive77 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead · Route 15 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.
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
Watch your lane discipline and signalling at Newcastle Airport Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 18.3 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, 60, 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.
Bodyline
Start near Bodyline.
Aldi
Continue to Aldi.
Newcastle Airport Roundabout
Continue to Newcastle Airport Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Ponteland Methodist Church
Continue to Ponteland Methodist Church.
Badger
Continue to Badger.
Northern Stationery
Continue to Northern Stationery.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
CostCo Fuel
Continue to CostCo Fuel.
Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota
Continue to Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota.
Winlaton Mill Millennium Green
Continue to Winlaton Mill Millennium Green.
Londis
Continue to Londis.
Gateway Church
Continue to Gateway Church.
Hillsong UK Newcastle
Continue to Hillsong UK Newcastle.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Ravensworth Road Methodist Church
Continue to Ravensworth Road Methodist Church.
Mosaic tap
Continue to Mosaic tap.
Newcastle
Continue to Newcastle.
R & C Motor Co Ltd
Continue to R & C Motor Co Ltd.
Holy Trinity Church
Continue to Holy Trinity Church.
Commercial
Finish back near Commercial, 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
9 roundabouts · 14 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 79.4 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.