A170 road (Great Britain)

A170
The hairpin bend on Sutton Bank.
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 road is 47 miles (76 km); a single carriageway for its totality.

The route has been in existence since prehistoric times and there are folk-tales about famous people from history using it. When turnpikes were installed between York and Coxwold, drovers would take their cattle this way because it was wide enough and meant they avoided paying the tolls.

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 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 three sections of very steep (1 in 4 (25%)) gradients of Sutton Bank. This section of road also includes a hairpin bend and the road rises 520 feet (160 m) in under 1 mile (1.6 km). 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 (9.7 km) before there is a 90°turn to the north and the B1257 joins from the south. Next is a short run northwards into Helmsley. Here the B1257 starts heading north-west and then north across the western edge of the moors to Stokesley. The A170 continues eastwards, following the corridor of the former railway between Helmsley and Pickering 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.