Near Gateshead test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 6 roundabouts, 19 turns and 7 signalled junctions across 29 navigation steps.
This is an independent 90.9 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 Fawdon Interchange and Great Parkway. 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 churches, pubs, stations and schools, 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 156-step drive on real, named roads (about 90.8 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
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 left to stay on A1.
A1166 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A1349 m
Take exit 68 onto A692 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1262 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Interchange6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road317 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426. Continue on B1426.
B14262.4 km
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 right to stay on A189.
A189873 m
Keep left to take St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard34 m
Turn left onto Gallowgate/A189. Continue on A189.
A1892.2 km
Take the A167 exit.
A1671.2 km
Keep left to stay on A167.
A167358 m
Turn right onto Holmesdale Road.
Holmesdale Road66 m
Turn left onto Arden Crescent.
Arden Crescent228 m
Turn left onto Yewvale Road.
Yewvale Road107 m
Turn left onto Stamfordham Road/A167.
Stamfordham Road586 m
Turn right towards A167/(A167(M))/City centre/Gateshead.
A1672.8 km
Continue on A167(M)/Central Motorway East.
A167(M)1.5 km
Keep right to stay on A167(M)/Central Motorway East.
A167(M)398 m
Continue on A167.
A167735 m
Turn right onto Eastgate/A184.
Eastgate41 m
Turn right to take the A167 ramp.
A167218 m
Keep left to take Bottle Bank.
Bottle Bank167 m
Turn left onto Church Street.
Church Street273 m
Move left onto Bridge Street.
Bridge Street37 m
Move left onto B1600.
B160063 m
Turn right to stay on B1600.
B1600878 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.
A695754 m
Move left onto Chainbridge Road/B6317.
Chainbridge Road701 m
Turn right.
213 m
Turn left onto Whiteley Road.
Whiteley Road225 m
Turn right onto Patterson Street.
Patterson Street79 m
Turn right onto Dunne Road.
Dunne Road435 m
Turn left onto Banks Court.
Banks Court1 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Banks Court.
Banks Court1 m
Turn right onto Dunne Road.
Dunne Road435 m
Turn left onto Patterson Street.
Patterson Street79 m
Turn left onto Whiteley Road.
Whiteley Road225 m
Turn left onto Blaydon Highway/A695.
Blaydon Highway672 m
Take the exit.
A695230 m
Move left onto Scotswood Bridge/A695.
Scotswood Bridge109 m
Keep right to take A695 towards Newcastle.
Scotswood Road4.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 4th exit onto Scotswood Road/A695.
66 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
Turn right onto Railway Street/A695.
Railway Street96 m
Turn left onto Scotswood Road/A189.
Scotswood Road226 m
Move left to stay on A189.
A1892.7 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 Interchange311 m
Turn left.
62 m
Turn left onto Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane90 m
Make a right U-turn to stay on Meadow Lane.
Meadow Lane90 m
Turn right.
62 m
Turn left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road310 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road648 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn right onto Colliery Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114291 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street659 m
Turn right onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West227 m
Turn right.
43 m
Turn left.
129 m
Turn left onto Askew Road West.
Askew Road West284 m
Turn left onto Team Street.
Team Street660 m
Turn right onto Clockmill Road/A1114. Continue on A1114.
A1114291 m
Turn left.
76 m
Turn right onto Wellington Road.
Wellington Road121 m
Turn left 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.
A1114800 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
23 m
Exit the roundabout onto Derwentwater Road/A1114.
Derwentwater Road631 m
Turn right to stay on A1114.
A1114153 m
Turn left onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street110 m
Turn right.
48 m
Turn left.
24 m
Turn left onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street134 m
Turn right onto A1114.
A1114154 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 Road521 m
Take the A1 exit.
A11.4 km
Take exit 68 onto A692 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1262 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Interchange6 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road317 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
32 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road763 m
Turn left onto Victoria Road.
Victoria Road319 m
Turn left onto Angus Road.
Angus Road150 m
Move right onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street233 m
Turn left onto A184.
A184637 m
Stay straight to take the ramp.
A150 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A113.5 km
Take exit 79 onto A1056/(B1318) towards Wide Open/Killingworth/Gosforth/Great Park.
445 m
Move left onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway509 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Great Parkway.
50 m
Exit the roundabout onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway456 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto North Park.
83 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Park.
North Park184 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto North Park.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto North Park.
North Park179 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Great Parkway.
11 m
Exit the roundabout onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway448 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Great Parkway.
49 m
Exit the roundabout onto Great Parkway.
Great Parkway672 m
Enter Gosforth Park Interchange and take the 5th exit.
Gosforth Park Interchange293 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1/E 15.
A112.5 km
Take exit 70 towards Whickham/Dunston.
346 m
Move left onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road928 m
Turn right onto Waterside Drive.
Waterside Drive77 m
You have arrived at your destination.
Directions for the Gateshead · Route 6 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.
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 30.0 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.
Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church
Start near Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church.
Waggon Team
Continue to Waggon Team.
Gateshead
Continue to Gateshead.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Salvation Army - Newcastle City Temple
Continue to Salvation Army - Newcastle City Temple.
Pandon Building
Continue to Pandon Building.
Globe
Continue to Globe.
Your Home Improvements
Continue to Your Home Improvements.
LTH Wholesale
Continue to LTH Wholesale.
Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls
Continue to Elswick Parish Church St Stephens & St Pauls.
Eagle Gay Bar
Continue to Eagle Gay Bar.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary
Continue to Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary.
Clockmill MOT
Continue to Clockmill MOT.
Ravensworth Road Methodist Church
Continue to Ravensworth Road Methodist Church.
Team-Auto
Continue to Team-Auto.
Fawdon Interchange
Continue to Fawdon Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
Great Parkway
Continue to Great Parkway, taking the junction with good observation.
A Wood Idea
Continue to A Wood Idea.
Alpkit & Sonder Bikes
Finish back near Alpkit & Sonder Bikes, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 5 sets of lights
9 roundabouts · 16 turns · 4 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 15 turns · 1 set of lights
9 roundabouts · 14 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 90.9 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.