Near Gateshead test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 8 roundabouts, 14 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 66.6 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.
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 pubs, shops, stations and churches, 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 148-step drive on real, named roads (about 66.5 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 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 3rd exit onto Shibdon Road/B6317.
35 m
Exit the roundabout onto Shibdon Road/B6317.
Shibdon Road1.2 km
Turn left to stay on Shibdon Road.
Shibdon Road512 m
Move left onto Garden Street.
Garden Street65 m
Enter Blaydon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Roundabout108 m
Exit the roundabout onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Highway7 m
Turn left.
12 m
Turn right onto Tyne Street.
Tyne Street186 m
Take the exit.
226 m
Turn right.
68 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto B6317.
2 m
Exit the roundabout onto B6317.
B6317601 m
Turn right onto Shibdon Bank.
Shibdon Bank1.4 km
Turn left onto Commercial Street.
Commercial Street425 m
Turn right onto Church Street.
Church Street1.4 km
Turn left onto Blaydon Bank.
Blaydon Bank502 m
Turn left onto Shibdon Road.
Shibdon Road29 m
Move left onto Garden Street.
Garden Street65 m
Enter Blaydon Roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Roundabout108 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 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 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.
A11141.7 km
Turn right.
76 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road121 m
Turn left onto Church Street.
Church Street184 m
Turn left onto Victoria Street.
Victoria Street164 m
Turn right onto Ravensworth Road.
Ravensworth Road397 m
Turn left onto Ellison Road.
Ellison Road430 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
42 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
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 Road4.0 km
Turn left onto Scotswood Bridge/A695.
Scotswood Bridge326 m
Keep right to stay on A695.
A6951.9 km
Enter Blaydon Roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Garden Street.
Blaydon Roundabout11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Garden Street.
Garden Street87 m
Turn right onto Blaydon Bank.
Blaydon Bank1.1 km
Turn left onto Litchfield Lane.
Litchfield Lane138 m
Move right onto Commercial Street.
Commercial Street425 m
Turn left onto Scotland Head.
Scotland Head739 m
Turn left onto Mill Lane.
Mill Lane1.1 km
Turn left onto Noel Avenue.
Noel Avenue307 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.
A1892.8 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 2nd exit towards A694/Consett/Morpeth.
71 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 Avenue188 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 Avenue60 m
Turn left onto May Avenue.
May Avenue206 m
Turn left onto Mundle Avenue.
Mundle Avenue60 m
Turn left onto June Avenue.
June Avenue214 m
Turn right onto Noel Avenue.
Noel Avenue140 m
Turn left onto Naylor Avenue.
Naylor Avenue282 m
Turn right onto Noel Avenue.
Noel Avenue175 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 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 4th exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
95 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 16 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.
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
Approach in the correct lane, signal on the exit before yours, and keep checking your mirrors as you leave.
Dual-carriageway join
About 5.1 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.
Tudor Rose
Start near Tudor Rose.
Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota
Continue to Stoneacre Toyota (Gateshead);Stoneacre Toyota.
Blaydon Bus Station
Continue to Blaydon Bus Station.
Winlaton Evangelical Church
Continue to Winlaton Evangelical Church.
Blaydon West Primary School
Continue to Blaydon West Primary School.
KFC
Continue to KFC.
St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church
Continue to St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church.
Redheugh Bridge Park
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Park.
Newcastle
Continue to Newcastle.
Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls
Continue to Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls.
Kingdom Hall
Continue to Kingdom Hall.
St Paul's Church
Continue to St Paul's Church.
Village Store
Continue to Village Store.
Gateway Church
Continue to Gateway Church.
St Matthew's Church, Big Lamp
Continue to St Matthew's Church, Big Lamp.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Wed2b
Continue to Wed2b.
Winlaton Mill Millennium Green
Continue to Winlaton Mill Millennium Green.
CostCo Fuel
Finish back near CostCo Fuel, 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 66.6 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.