Near Gateshead test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 12 roundabouts, 13 turns and 2 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 67.4 km practice loop near Gateshead 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 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, schools, pubs 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 149-step drive on real, named roads (about 67.4 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 onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road1.0 km
Turn right to take the A1 ramp.
A12.6 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
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.
B1305578 m
Turn right onto Atkinson Terrace.
Atkinson Terrace10 m
Turn right onto Joan Street.
Joan Street126 m
Turn right.
85 m
Turn right onto Armstrong Road.
Armstrong Road65 m
Turn left onto Atkinson Road/B1305. Continue on B1305.
B1305387 m
Turn left onto Whitehouse Road/B1305.
Whitehouse Road188 m
Turn right onto Scotswood Road/A695.
Scotswood Road1.6 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Road/A191.
72 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A191.
Scotswood Road253 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.
A12.9 km
Take exit 76 onto A167/B6324 towards City (West)/Westerhope.
383 m
Enter Westerhope Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Stamfordham Road/B6324.
Westerhope Interchange4 m
Exit the roundabout onto Stamfordham Road/B6324.
Stamfordham Road83 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto West Denton Way.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Denton Way.
West Denton Way193 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto West Denton Way.
26 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Denton Way.
West Denton Way1.7 km
Turn left onto Hillhead Road.
Hillhead Road451 m
Turn right onto Chapel House Drive.
Chapel House Drive77 m
Turn left onto Chapel House Road.
Chapel House Road369 m
Turn left onto Northcote Avenue.
Northcote Avenue284 m
Turn right onto Hillhead Road.
Hillhead Road83 m
Enter West Denton Interchange and take the 1st exit.
West Denton Interchange4 m
Exit the roundabout onto A69/E 18.
A691.2 km
Enter East Denton Interchange and take the 3rd exit.
East Denton Interchange137 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15.
A12.6 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 2nd exit towards B6317/Consett/Morpeth.
61 m
Exit the roundabout towards B6317/Consett/Morpeth.
A694529 m
Turn left onto Hexham Road/B6317.
Hexham Road529 m
Turn right onto Swalwell Bank/B6317.
Swalwell Bank1.1 km
Turn right onto Fellside Road.
Fellside Road458 m
Turn right onto Parkway.
Parkway2.3 km
Turn left onto Fellside Road.
Fellside Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Swalwell Bank/B6317.
Swalwell Bank1.0 km
Turn left onto Hexham Road/B6317.
Hexham Road507 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Derwent Haugh Road/A694.
36 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwent Haugh Road/A694.
Derwent Haugh Road197 m
Take the A1 exit.
A12.9 km
Take exit 75 onto A69 towards Hexham.
319 m
Keep left to take A69 towards Hexham.
A69699 m
Take the West Denton Interchange exit.
550 m
Enter West Denton Interchange and take the 4th exit onto Hillhead Road.
West Denton Interchange178 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hillhead Road.
Hillhead Road225 m
Turn left onto Chapel House Drive.
Chapel House Drive311 m
Turn right onto Aisgill Drive.
Aisgill Drive162 m
Turn left to stay on Aisgill Drive.
Aisgill Drive239 m
Turn right onto Hillhead Parkway.
Hillhead Parkway186 m
Turn right onto Hillhead Road.
Hillhead Road324 m
Turn right onto Chapel House Drive.
Chapel House Drive77 m
Turn left onto Chapel House Road.
Chapel House Road212 m
Turn left to stay on Chapel House Road.
Chapel House Road81 m
Turn right to stay on Chapel House Road.
Chapel House Road155 m
Turn left onto Chapel House Drive.
Chapel House Drive238 m
Turn right onto Aisgill Drive.
Aisgill Drive162 m
Turn left to stay on Aisgill Drive.
Aisgill Drive239 m
Turn right onto Hillhead Parkway.
Hillhead Parkway186 m
Turn right onto Hillhead Road.
Hillhead Road547 m
Enter West Denton Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto Union Hall Road.
West Denton Interchange97 m
Exit the roundabout onto Union Hall Road.
Union Hall Road1.3 km
Turn left onto Tyne View.
Tyne View199 m
Move right.
208 m
Turn left onto Scotswood Road/A6085. Continue on A6085.
A6085527 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Scotswood Road/A6085.
14 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Road/A6085.
Scotswood Road535 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit towards A695/City Centre/Blaydon.
86 m
Exit the roundabout towards A695/City Centre/Blaydon.
A191329 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood Bridge/A695.
104 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood Bridge/A695.
Scotswood Bridge228 m
Keep left to take A694.
Derwenthaugh Road615 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.
A1912 m
Take exit 71 towards Metro Centre.
91 m
Keep right at the fork.
227 m
Turn right onto Hollinside Road.
Hollinside Road206 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit towards Dunston.
22 m
Exit the roundabout towards Dunston.
Market Lane412 m
Turn right onto Lambton Avenue.
Lambton Avenue222 m
Turn right onto Wallace Avenue.
Wallace Avenue89 m
Turn right onto Beech Avenue.
Beech Avenue23 m
Turn left onto Tyne View Avenue.
Tyne View Avenue75 m
Turn left onto Ashfield Avenue.
Ashfield Avenue142 m
Turn left onto Ashfield Park.
Ashfield Park21 m
Turn left onto Elm Avenue.
Elm Avenue165 m
Turn left onto Lambton Avenue.
Lambton Avenue349 m
Turn left onto Market Lane.
Market Lane412 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Hollinside Road.
49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hollinside Road.
Hollinside Road206 m
Turn right to take the A1 ramp.
A12.2 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 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 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.
A11141.0 km
Turn right onto St Omers Road.
St Omers Road295 m
Turn right.
568 m
Turn right onto Cross Lane.
Cross Lane201 m
Turn left to stay on Cross Lane.
Cross Lane145 m
Turn right onto Scotswood View.
Scotswood View251 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood View.
85 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood View.
Scotswood View251 m
Turn left onto Cross Lane.
Cross Lane145 m
Turn right to stay on Cross Lane.
Cross Lane201 m
Turn left.
666 m
Turn left onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road648 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 4 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.
Watch for 20 mph zones, crossings and children near these.
Useful navigation anchors on the loop.
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 16.1 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.
Height for Hire
Start near Height for Hire.
Atkinson Road Nursery School
Continue to Atkinson Road Nursery School.
West Newcastle Academy
Continue to West Newcastle Academy.
Screwfix
Continue to Screwfix.
McDonald's
Continue to McDonald's.
Peregrine
Continue to Peregrine.
Blaydon RFC
Continue to Blaydon RFC.
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
Continue to Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.
Fellside Methodist
Continue to Fellside Methodist.
Londis
Continue to Londis.
Fiat Professional
Continue to Fiat Professional.
St John Vianney RC Church
Continue to St John Vianney RC Church.
Betfred
Continue to Betfred.
Holy Saviour
Continue to Holy Saviour.
Pure Electric
Continue to Pure Electric.
Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church
Continue to Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls
Continue to Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls.
Richard Hardie - Jeep
Continue to Richard Hardie - Jeep.
Tudor Rose
Finish back near Tudor Rose, 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 67.4 km and takes about 45 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gateshead test centre, not an official DVSA route.