It runs from the A64 at Malton on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds through the Vale of Pickering and across the North York Moors to join the A171 just west of Whitby.

Whilst it is not considered a Primary Route nationally, the Ryedale Local Transport Plan lists it as part of its Major Road Network alongside the A64, A166 and A171.

[1] The moorland section between Pickering and the junction with the A171 can be problematic to travellers during winter when frost, dense fog and heavy snow are common occurrences.

[5] 1.9 miles (3 km) after the Hole of Horcum is the turning for RAF Fylingdales and another sharp bend in the road over Eller Beck Bridge.

At the junction is Sleights Moor, another turn off the road (this time for Grosmont) and then you happen across another viewpoint which looks north east across to Larpool Viaduct and Whitby.

[10][11] At the bottom of Blue Bank is the turn for Grosmont and the route is mostly downhill from here with some gentle gradients and some steeper as you descend into the village of Sleights.

At the bottom of the valley you cross the River Esk and the Middlesbrough to Whitby Railway line across Sleights Bridge.

[13] Immediately after the bridge is the east turn for the B1410 into Ruswarp, then it is up out of the valley on a much gentler climb until the road reaches a roundabout junction with the A171.

[20] In 2015, Northern Powergrid started remedial works to remove the pylons and associated electrical equipment and replace them with a sub-surface cable power network.