Near Gateshead test centre
Rated moderate from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts, 12 turns and 3 signalled junctions across 24 navigation steps.
This is an independent 71.2 km practice loop near Gateshead test centre, taking roughly 35 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 stations, shops, churches 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 156-step drive on real, named roads (about 71.2 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.
A1114644 m
Turn left 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 1st exit onto Scotswood View.
43 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood View.
Scotswood View167 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Scotswood View.
42 m
Exit the roundabout onto Scotswood View.
Scotswood View338 m
Keep right to stay on Scotswood View.
Scotswood View365 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Riverside Way/A1114.
65 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 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 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.
A12.5 km
Take exit 71 towards Metrocentre.
410 m
Move left onto Hollinside Road.
Hollinside Road83 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 Road109 m
Turn left to take the ramp towards Newcastle/Hexham.
A13.8 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 1st exit onto Union Hall Road.
West Denton Interchange8 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 2nd exit towards A191/Benwell.
52 m
Exit the roundabout towards A191/Benwell.
A191199 m
Turn left onto Denton Road/A191.
Denton Road1.3 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto Denton Road/A191.
29 m
Exit the roundabout onto Denton Road/A191.
Denton Road358 m
Turn left onto West Road/A186.
West Road585 m
Enter East Denton Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A69/E 18.
East Denton Interchange87 m
Exit the roundabout onto A69/E 18.
A69617 m
Take the West Denton Interchange exit.
550 m
Enter West Denton Interchange and take the 1st exit onto Union Hall Road.
West Denton Interchange8 m
Exit the roundabout onto Union Hall Road.
Union Hall Road994 m
Turn left onto Denton Avenue.
Denton Avenue13 m
Turn left onto Bewick Crescent.
Bewick Crescent153 m
Turn left onto Waverley Crescent.
Waverley Crescent129 m
Turn left onto Addison Road.
Addison Road103 m
Turn right onto Union Hall Road.
Union Hall Road761 m
Move left.
31 m
Enter West Denton Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto Hillhead Road.
West Denton Interchange141 m
Exit the roundabout onto Hillhead Road.
Hillhead Road84 m
Turn right onto Western Avenue.
Western Avenue131 m
Turn left onto Hill Head Drive.
Hill Head Drive123 m
Turn left onto Hillhead Drive.
Hillhead Drive194 m
Turn right onto Western Avenue.
Western Avenue68 m
Turn left 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 Road369 m
Turn left onto Northcote Avenue.
Northcote Avenue416 m
Turn left onto Hill Head Drive.
Hill Head Drive123 m
Turn left onto Hillhead Drive.
Hillhead Drive194 m
Turn right onto Western Avenue.
Western Avenue68 m
Turn left 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 2nd exit onto West Road/A186.
East Denton Interchange90 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Road/A186.
West Road589 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto West Road/A186.
20 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Road/A186.
West Road1.8 km
Turn right onto Condercum Road/B1305. Continue on B1305.
B1305687 m
Turn left 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 Road1.5 km
Turn left onto Scotswood Bridge/A695.
Scotswood Bridge326 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.
A12.6 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 7 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.
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 21.3 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.
Metro Centre
Start near Metro Centre.
MetroCentre
Continue to MetroCentre.
CostCo Fuel
Continue to CostCo Fuel.
Alpkit
Continue to Alpkit.
Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church
Continue to Dunston Christian Spiritualist Church.
Redheugh Bridge Park
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Park.
Bobby’s
Continue to Bobby’s.
Holmeside Hall Social Club
Continue to Holmeside Hall Social Club.
LGV Services
Continue to LGV Services.
Holy Saviour
Continue to Holy Saviour.
St George's RC Church
Continue to St George's RC Church.
NISA Local Roman way
Continue to NISA Local Roman way.
Blaydon RFC
Continue to Blaydon RFC.
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel
Continue to Wesleyan Methodist Chapel.
Fellside Methodist
Continue to Fellside Methodist.
Londis
Continue to Londis.
St John Vianney RC Church
Continue to St John Vianney RC Church.
Denton Burn Methodist Church
Continue to Denton Burn Methodist Church.
St James Parish Church
Continue to St James Parish Church.
R & C Motor Co Ltd
Finish back near R & C Motor Co Ltd, 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 71.2 km and takes about 35 min to drive at a steady learner pace. It is an independent practice loop near Gateshead test centre, not an official DVSA route.