North East place names that confuse drivers and sat navs

But if you’re looking at the region on a map, you’d be forgiven for doing a double take or getting a sense of de ja vu, as some towns share names or are awkwardly similar.

If you don’t know your Stanley and Crook from your Stanley Crook, or your Easington from your Easington, you could easily end up in the wrong place.

Last month the Echo told how a Barcelona fan heading to his side’s Champions League clash at St James Park in Newcastle was left red-faced after turning up at the stadium of the same name in Exeter.

But within the region there are plenty of names which could leave tourists, or locals, making a similar error.

Stanley, Crook and Stanley Crook

Stanley in North West Durham and Crook are almost a half-hour drive further south.

But Stanley Crook is its own village in itself, just north of Crook itself.

Miss a comma in a text and your mates could be waiting in the wrong pit village, wondering which Stanley you’re in.

Elwick and Elswick

Elwick is the quiet village just outside Hartlepool, while Elswick sits on the banks of the Tyne in west Newcastle.

One wrong vowel and you’ve swapped country lanes for city dual carriageways.

Easington

If you key Easington into your sat nav, make sure you check twice where you’re heading.

There’s one by Peterlee and another near Saltburn, and picking the wrong one can leave you 25 miles out, staring at the sea and thinking, “that cliff definitely wasn’t here last time.”

Newbiggin

Head for the coast and you’ve got Newbiggin‑by‑the‑Sea in Northumberland with its chips, promenade and sea air, versus Newbiggin Hall in west Newcastle, which is very much not a seaside resort, however optimistic you are with your bucket and spade.

Hemlington and Helmington Row

Head to Middlesbrough and you’ll find Hemlington with its lake and housing estates.

But be careful not to make a typo and mix up the M and L, as you’d find yourself heading to Helmington Row near Crook.

The Trimdons

If you’re looking for an East Durham pit village with Trimdon in the name, make sure you get the right out.

Trimdon, Trimdon Station, and Trimdon Colliery all lie so close together they’re often dubbed “the Trimdons”.

Bowes

If you’re looking for Bowes in Teesdale, a pretty village with an old castle, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t heading towards Gateshead and the Bowes Incline, near the Angel of the North.

Hetton-le-Hole and Hutton-le-Hole

Even your tongue can get tied with Hetton‑le‑Hole in Sunderland and Hutton‑le‑Hole over in North Yorkshire.

One misplaced vowel and you’re a national park away from where you planned to be.