It runs north west from Leeds in West Yorkshire via Kirkstall, Horsforth, Yeadon, Guiseley, Ilkley and Skipton, west of Settle, Ingleton and Kirkby Lonsdale before terminating at Kendal in Cumbria.

Listed from south to north, beginning at Leeds: The A65 between Long Preston and junction 36 of the M6 motorway has a poor safety record, according to EuroRAP being listed as a medium-high risk road.

This 26-mile (42 km) stretch of single carriageway road suffered 48 fatal or serious injury accidents between 2002 and 2004.

The road features in the list of highest risk roads in Britain (excluding motorcycle accidents).

[4] The section between Leeds and Long Preston is listed as being a low-medium risk road.