A170 road

A170 road
Major junctions
West end:	Thirsk
	A19 road A169 road A171 road A64 road A165 road
East end:	Scarborough
Road network
Roads in the United Kingdom Motorways A and B road zones

The A170 is an A road in North Yorkshire, England that links Thirsk with Scarborough through Pickering. The route is single carriageway for all of its 47 mile (76 km) route.

History

The route has been in existence since prehistoric times and there are folk-tales about famous people from history using it. Because turnpikes were installed between York and Coxwold, Drovers would take their cattle this way as it was wide enough and helped to prevent them paying the tolls.

Settlements

• Thirsk
• Sutton-Under-Whitestonecliffe
• (Sutton Bank)
• Sproxton
• Helmsley
• Beadlam
• Nawton
• Kirkbymoorside
• Wrelton
• Aislaby
• Middleton
• Pickering
• Thornton-Le-Dale
• Allerston
• Ebberston
• Snainton
• West Ayton
• East Ayton
• Scarborough

Descripton of route

The road begins at Thirsk, sprouting off from the A19 road and A168 junction with a short section north into the town before turning due east and going over the now dualled A19. After about 5 miles (8.0 km) and passing through the village of Sutton-Under-Whitestonecliffe, it enters the North York Moors National Park and the Hambleton Hills and reaches the very steep uphill 1 in 4 (25%) of Sutton Bank. There is a viewpoint and North York Moors National Park visitor centre at the top of the hill.

The road continues east for 6 miles (10 km) before there is a 90°turn to the north and the B1257 joins from the south. Hereafter is a short run northwards into Helmsley where the B1257 leaves (going north west and then north across the western edge of the moors) to Stokesley. The A170 then continues eastwards for 13 miles (21 km) through Beadlam, Nawton, Kirkbymoorside, Wrelton, Aislaby and Middleton before arriving at Pickering. Just east of Pickering town centre is the junction with the A169 Malton to Whitby road.

The road continues eastwards out of Pickering and just short of 1 mile (1.5 km) it leaves the North York Moors National Park. The road carries on for 18 miles (29 km) through Thornton-Le-Dale, Allerston, Ebberston, Snainton, West Ayton and East Ayton before arriving in Scarborough. It first meets the A171 from Middlesbrough then it has a junction the A64 in the Falsgrave area of Scarborough town.

Safety

The road itself has been described as High Risk. In 2001, the AA labelled the route as one of the most dangerous in Britain. Caravans are strictly prohibited from going either up or down Sutton Bank as the steep gradient and hairpin bend makes it dangerous for caravans and HGV's. There is an alternative route signposted through Coxwold and Ampleforth for banned vehicles. In an average year, 120 HGV's breakdown and another 400 suffer problems ascending or descending the route. New signage and the application of an anti-skid surface has improved the situation and seen a reduction of 23% of serious problems in the first year after the improvements.

Barkers Lane cross roads at Snainton is also listed as an accident blackspot.

Buses

Some services travel between Helmlsey, Kirkbymoorside & Pickering, with the services from Pickering to Scarborough being the most frequent. No services travel the entire route from Thirsk to Scarborough along the length of the A170.

• Steep bend on Sutton Bank - geograph.org.uk - 801761.jpg

  The notorious hairpin bend on Sutton Bank. HGVs will sometimes lose traction here.