I will be travelling to hutton le hole near pickering. I will be turning off the A19 at thirsk, sutton bank is in between thirsk and pickering. Is it suitable for towing a caravan up sutton bank?
Short answer is no, it's prohibited, and with good reason.
We will be heading that way tomorrow morning, we have used the caravan route many times and dont find it too much of a problem. I think if you had a large twin wheeler it would be challenging! You do have to keep your eyes open for the signs (if I remember the route signs are shown by a black square?) and you are on country roads and going through small villages.
Lovely area though, nice pub in Hutton-le-Hole too. Folk Museum well worth a visit. We are staying not far from Helmsley. Hope you enjoy your visit.
Caravans are banned from Sutton Bank....with very good reason.
Coming down from Durham head for the A19 through Middlesbrough until you come to the A174 exit and head east. In Marton turn right on to the A172 to Stokesley. Keep on the A172 round Stokesley (avoiding Town Centre) until you come to the B1257 from Stokesley to Helmsley. Head down to Helmsley.
That road takes you into the Market Place (turning left at the Church). As you come into the Market Place it will be on your right. Keep straight on at the junction and that road takes you out of Helmsley on to Kirbymoorside. This is the Scarborough Road. Through Kirbymoorside and after about two miles turn left to Hutton Le Hole.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
no no no unless you want a fine it is signed for miloes arounf that it is prohibited to caravans it is a one in four with tight bends we went up it in a bus and it stalled the driver was sacked it served him right there is a signed alternative route at Thirsk follow it unless you are mad of course which I am sure you are not the maps will have it marked thus
csdc has it right mind you there are a couple of steep climbs one into the moors and one at the end going south the southern one is the steeper if the two but manageable unless you get stuck behind the proverbial tractor
Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 20/4/2011
Caravans are banned from Sutton Bank....with very good reason.
Coming down from Durham head for the A19 through Middlesbrough until you come to the A174 exit and head east. In Marton turn right on to the A172 to Stokesley. Keep on the A172 round Stokesley (avoiding Town Centre) until you come to the B1257 from Stokesley to Helmsley. Head down to Helmsley.
That road takes you into the Market Place (turning left at the Church). As you come into the Market Place it will be on your right. Keep straight on at the junction and that road takes you out of Helmsley on to Kirbymoorside. This is the Scarborough Road. Through Kirbymoorside and after about two miles turn left to Hutton Le Hole.
Phil
Just one word of caution. Motorcyclists use the B1257 as a speed trial route especially between Helmsley and Chop Gate. I travelled from Helmsley to Stokesly a few weeks ago on a Sunday afternoon and the antics they got up to, at speed, was terrifying. They were going so fast, they appeared from nowhere and it was very unnerving.
Why is there never a copper about when you need one? The old bill would have a field day on this route over a weekend.
Quote: Originally posted by Vic Wildish on 21/4/2011
Why is there never a copper about when you need one? The old bill would have a field day on this route over a weekend.
They often do, as a regular along this road for years I have seen the police carry out operations targeting motorcycles many tines.
We have similar problems with some motorcyclists using the A6 and the Ashbourne to Cromford road en route to the bikers meets at Matlock Bath,
No matter how many signs warning of the dangers with slogans like 'Dying for a ride' the police and the highways agencies post up, theres always someone who thinks they know better when it comes to taking risks and speeding whilst out on their bike.
The bunches of roadside flowers and shrines to those who have lost their lives doing so are just all to common in these areas, such a shame that a life has been lost due to sheer stupidity and often at such a young age.
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
I bought a sat nav which is supposed to be specifically for towing caravans and it ignores the fact that it is illegal to tow a caravan via Sutton Bank. After some 'discussion' with the company which supplies the kit, it seems that Navtec mapping which is used in my sat nav is for lorries and they can use the route and Navtec will do nothing about the software.
Yet farmers can tow livestock trailers up sutton bank with 4x4s legally and caravans are banned .
I towed up sutton bank in 2002 with our then new Senator Oklahoma van and new 2.2dti SWB Frontera sport with no problems in wet conditions , I stopped in the layby at the bottom of the hill engaged 4 wheel drive and Low ratio and
2nd gear and crawled up with no loss of traction .
Now I do know its illegal but I came out of a side road near the bottom of the hill after getting lost and did not realise until I was beyond the point of no return .
However I WONT DO IT AGAIN although I do think 4x4s should be allowed up when towing .
Quote: Originally posted by Cybbib on 25/5/2011
I bought a sat nav which is supposed to be specifically for towing caravans and it ignores the fact that it is illegal to tow a caravan via Sutton Bank. After some 'discussion' with the company which supplies the kit, it seems that Navtec mapping which is used in my sat nav is for lorries and they can use the route and Navtec will do nothing about the software.
I bet it's nothing to do with that - it's simply because maps by Navtec, or any other source, do not record gradient or road width, simply because that would make the map files too large to be stored and processed. So they simply cannot tell that a road is unsuitable for a caravan or a truck. Yes, they may take into account fixed width restrictors and low bridges but that will be it.
Why are caravans only banned? Why not trucks? Seems a strange distinction...surely trucks will have just as hard a time as a caravan?
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
I have been the passenger in a car (not towing) going up sutton bank and that was bad enough. My brother in law wouldn't even attempt it with a trailer tent, he went the diversion.
I wouldn't like to attempt a hill start on it.
Quote: Originally posted by Cybbib on 25/5/2011
I bought a sat nav which is supposed to be specifically for towing caravans and it ignores the fact that it is illegal to tow a caravan via Sutton Bank. After some 'discussion' with the company which supplies the kit, it seems that Navtec mapping which is used in my sat nav is for lorries and they can use the route and Navtec will do nothing about the software.
To the enquiry `why are trucks allowed when caravans are not`. The simple answer is power to weight ratio . A well ,maintained properly loaded truck IS capable of making the climb without difficulty . When working out of Scarborough I was one of many who were routed this way and it was rare to see a stranded truck . The design and use regulations mean there is always a reserve of power and braking to do these climbs and descents , albeit slowly . Caravans , unfortunately , are often overloaded or the tow car is too low powered or the clutch is not up to the job . Dare I say that some of the drivers are not up to the job either regardless of the above . I expect that if a study of why the ban came into force and when , the ratio of breakdowns on the Bank will show caravans to be the biggest problem by far .