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Hi can anyone help,is the A170 between Thrisk and Hemsley suitable for towing a caravan we would be turning off on the B1257 to Malton.I've heard there are a few bad hill on this road not suitable for towing.

thanks

There is a diversion from Thirsk that takes you to the A19 along some back roads then rejoins the A170.

We came across this last and would advise to take a map along in case of any missing signage, but the back roads are fine and regularly used by towers.  

Caravans and some lorries are banned from the A170 between Thirsk and Hemsley, due to Sutton Bank a 1 in 4  3/4 mile hill with hairpin bends.

Just use the alternative route clearly marked

the only hill to worry about is the sone at Sutton Bank    it is clearly signposted that caravans are prhibited _but many choose to ignore it-     you will not be anywhere near this because if you do come via Malton the roads are not a problem and SB is miles away from you       we went on a Sunday School trip to Scarborough years ago and the driver thought he knew better, so he tried the Bank.  Silly move, he lost his job.  everyone- children, over 70s/80s had to walk up.  It was not a good day.  You often hear about lorries being in bother and I have seen a few having to reverse.  

You could pop up the SB to have a go at it in the car - but leave the van behind.   Ther is a visitor centre and some splendid walks.  Even a gliding club up there   Enjoy the visit

As a relative local to Sutton Bank

I can assure you that as a lorry driver it really is nothing to be scared of

yes their is a tight bend half way up that the unwarey have to brake for and change down

but if you get in the right gear and take it steady it really is just another hill

Have to agree with the above, and I was wondering what all the fuss was about when I passed through without the van.   We went over the route Napolean in south of France a couple of years back in the Focus (1.8 diesel) towing a Sprite challenger, lots of tight hairpins and lots of 1 in 4's.

But, as the signs say "caravans prohibitied", so the police will take a dim view and may turn you back!

It can be fun though once your at the top of Sutton Bank.

On the 2 .5 mile hill down to Helmsley I used to knock my car out of gear engine still running at tick over for breaking, and free wheel all the way down saves fuel and you can even overtake and in my Wolseley 1660 and moggy van even turn the engine off.

The moggy van was an old GPO one and had air in the breaks so had to pump the break pedal like mad to get it to stop, that was back in the 70s when I was daft as a brush, so going down Sutton bank I engaged 1st and started to pump half way down the 1st bit of strait just before the hairpin, Ah the good old days