Near Gateshead test centre
Rated challenging from its real manoeuvre load, 9 roundabouts, 16 turns and 4 signalled junctions across 31 navigation steps.
This is an independent 90.2 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.
Along the way you'll meet Lobley Hill Interchange, Redheugh Bridge Roundabout, Fawdon Interchange and North Park. 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, named junctions, stations and shops, 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 153-step drive on real, named roads (about 90.2 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 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 West684 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Cuthbert Street.
39 m
Exit the roundabout onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street130 m
Turn right to take the ramp towards Team Valeey/Consett.
A1841.6 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/B6317/B1426 towards Consett/Whickham/Team Valley.
A1262 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 4th exit onto A1.
Lobley Hill Interchange326 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1.
A1153 m
Keep left to take A184.
A1841.1 km
Move left towards Teams.
149 m
Turn right towards Teams.
Derwentwater Road411 m
Turn right to stay on A1114.
A1114153 m
Turn left onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street233 m
Move left onto Angus Road.
Angus Road122 m
Turn left.
128 m
Turn left onto Morris Street.
Morris Street109 m
Turn right onto Angus Road.
Angus Road96 m
Move right onto Bolam Street.
Bolam Street233 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. Continue on B1426.
B14262.4 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A184/Regent Street.
65 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184/Regent Street. Continue on A184.
A184453 m
Enter Park Lane and take the 1st exit onto A167/Gateshead Highway.
Park Lane29 m
Exit the roundabout onto A167/Gateshead Highway. Continue on A167.
A1671.1 km
Keep right towards Other Routes.
A167(M)4.6 km
Keep left to take A167.
A167136 m
Move left onto Two Ball Lonnen/B1305.
Two Ball Lonnen304 m
Turn left onto Cypress Avenue.
Cypress Avenue284 m
Turn right onto Queensway.
Queensway322 m
Turn left onto Fenham Hall Drive.
Fenham Hall Drive1.2 km
Turn right onto Ponteland Road/A189. Continue on A189.
A1891.8 km
Keep right to take St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard16 m
Turn right to stay on St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard807 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A1892.8 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 4th exit onto Kingsway North.
109 m
Exit the roundabout onto Kingsway North.
Kingsway North919 m
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue430 m
Turn right to stay on Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue32 m
Turn left.
67 m
Turn right.
70 m
Turn left.
24 m
Turn right onto Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue32 m
Turn left to stay on Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue444 m
Turn right onto Kingsway North.
Kingsway North899 m
Enter the roundabout and take the 1st exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
18 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road331 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto A1.
Lobley Hill Interchange251 m
Exit the roundabout onto A1.
A1153 m
Keep right to take A1/E 15.
A17.0 km
Take exit 75 onto A186 towards Hexham/City (West).
319 m
Keep right to take A186 towards Newcastle Upon Tyne (West).
91 m
Enter East Denton Interchange and take the 3rd exit onto West Road/A186.
East Denton Interchange135 m
Exit the roundabout onto West Road/A186.
West Road562 m
Move left onto Silver Lonnen/A191.
Silver Lonnen1.1 km
Turn right onto Netherby Drive.
Netherby Drive1.3 km
Turn left onto Kingsway.
Kingsway221 m
Turn right onto Redewater Road.
Redewater Road51 m
Turn right onto Powburn Gardens.
Powburn Gardens226 m
Turn left onto Fenham Hall Drive.
Fenham Hall Drive770 m
Turn right onto Ponteland Road/A189. Continue on A189.
A1891.8 km
Keep right to take St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard16 m
Turn right to stay on St James' Boulevard/A189.
St James' Boulevard807 m
Keep left to stay on A189.
A189788 m
Enter Redheugh Bridge Roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto A184.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout281 m
Exit the roundabout onto A184.
A18424 m
Keep left at the fork.
175 m
Keep right at the fork.
29 m
Turn left onto Cuthbert Street.
Cuthbert Street203 m
Turn right onto Bensham Road/B1426. Continue on B1426.
B14261.7 km
Enter the roundabout and take the 3rd exit onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
98 m
Exit the roundabout onto Lobley Hill Road/B1426.
Lobley Hill Road331 m
Enter Lobley Hill Interchange and take the 2nd exit onto A692/Lobley Hill Road.
Lobley Hill Interchange152 m
Exit the roundabout onto A692/Lobley Hill Road.
A692439 m
Take the exit on the right.
A69295 m
Keep right to take A692/Lobley Hill Road.
A69211 m
Continue on Whickham Highway/B6317.
Whickham Highway1.1 km
Turn right onto Dunston Bank.
Dunston Bank1.3 km
Turn left.
55 m
Turn right onto Dunston Road.
Dunston Road383 m
Turn right to take the A1 ramp.
A112.3 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.
A19.6 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 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.
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 8 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.
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 Redheugh Bridge Roundabout. Get into the correct lane early and check your exit mirror before leaving.
Dual-carriageway join
About 33.5 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.
Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary
Start near Catholic community Of The Holy Rosary.
Lobley Hill Interchange
Continue to Lobley Hill Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church
Continue to St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church.
Ravensworth Road Methodist Church
Continue to Ravensworth Road Methodist Church.
Eden Progressive S N U spiritualist Church
Continue to Eden Progressive S N U spiritualist Church.
Redeemed Christian Church Of God
Continue to Redeemed Christian Church Of God.
St James and St Basil
Continue to St James and St Basil.
Newcastle Coach Station
Continue to Newcastle Coach Station.
Redheugh Bridge Roundabout
Continue to Redheugh Bridge Roundabout, taking the junction with good observation.
Traidcraft
Continue to Traidcraft.
Waggon Team
Continue to Waggon Team.
Wed2b
Continue to Wed2b.
Denton Nails & Spa
Continue to Denton Nails & Spa.
Denton Hotel
Continue to Denton Hotel.
Whickham House
Continue to Whickham House.
Immaculate Heart Of Mary
Continue to Immaculate Heart Of Mary.
R & C Motor Co Ltd
Continue to R & C Motor Co Ltd.
Fawdon Interchange
Continue to Fawdon Interchange, taking the junction with good observation.
North Park
Continue to North Park, taking the junction with good observation.
Hodgson Mazda
Finish back near Hodgson Mazda, completing the loop.
4 roundabouts · 18 turns · 5 sets of lights
6 roundabouts · 19 turns · 7 sets of lights
7 roundabouts · 15 turns · 1 set of lights
9 roundabouts · 14 turns · 3 sets of lights
This route is 90.2 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.