If you regularly drive the A684 from Leeming towards Sedbergh, you’ll know just how varied the journey can be.

The route takes drivers from the A1(M) area near Leeming Bar, past Bedale and through Wensleydale towards Leyburn, Bainbridge, Hawes and Garsdale before reaching Sedbergh. It is an important east-west route for local residents, businesses, agricultural traffic and visitors travelling into the Yorkshire Dales.

It is also a road where conditions can change quickly. Open stretches give way to villages, bends, junctions and narrower sections, while weather and visibility can be very different at the western end of the route.

The key message for motorists is simple: don’t let a familiar road catch you out.

Take extra care through Wensleydale

A particular area where drivers should stay alert is the central section of the A684 through Wensleydale, including areas around West Witton, Bainbridge and Hawes.

Historic road-safety assessments have identified locations on the A684, including West Witton, Bainbridge and Hawes, in relation to killed or seriously injured collision data, and the A684 subsequently received investment through the Government’s Safer Roads Fund.

This part of the journey can demand more concentration than its rural surroundings might suggest.

There are bends, junctions, changes in speed limit and vehicles turning into villages, farms and properties. Add cyclists, motorcyclists, walkers, agricultural vehicles and tourist traffic unfamiliar with the road, and drivers need to be prepared for something unexpected.

Give yourself time, leave space and don’t rush an overtake.

Slow down before villages – not once you’re in them

The A684 passes directly through a number of communities.

When you’re approaching a village such as West Witton, Bainbridge or Hawes, start reducing your speed before you reach the lower limit.

Bainbridge is a good example of the continuing focus on speed management along the route, with North Yorkshire Council making a new 30mph speed limit order for the A684 at Bainbridge in 2026.

Remember that these aren’t simply sections of A-roads. People live here. There may be pedestrians crossing, vehicles pulling out, cyclists, parked cars and entrances that are easy to miss.

Don’t take chances when overtaking

Being stuck behind a tractor, caravan or slower-moving vehicle can be frustrating, particularly on a long journey. But on the A684, the next safe overtaking opportunity may be further away than you think. Bends, dips and junctions can hide approaching vehicles. A gap that looks clear at first can disappear very quickly.

Look out for bikes – with and without engines

The Yorkshire Dales attract both cyclists and motorcyclists, particularly when the weather is good. If you’re passing a cyclist, wait until you have enough room to do it properly rather than squeezing past because another vehicle is approaching.

Motorcycles can also be difficult to judge at junctions because their size can make their speed and distance harder to assess.

Look once, then look again before pulling out.

The road changes as you head towards Sedbergh. Beyond Hawes and towards Garsdale and Sedbergh, the A684 becomes a very different drive from the section around Leeming and Bedale.

There are narrower stretches, bends and changing gradients, and poor weather can make the journey considerably more demanding.

Road condition is also particularly relevant on this western section. In 2026, Westmorland and Furness Council carried out essential reconstruction and repair work at four locations along a roughly 10-mile section between Sedbergh and Garsdale Head, including work to address a partially collapsed retaining wall and culvert at Smorthwaite.

Even if you’ve driven the road hundreds of times, don’t assume today’s conditions will be the same as yesterday’s.

Rain, fog and winter weather make a big difference

On a dry summer afternoon, visibility along the A684 can be excellent. In heavy rain, fog, darkness or winter weather, the same road can feel completely different. Slow down before bends and leave more room between you and the vehicle ahead.

Take care around Leeming and the A1(M)

At the eastern end of this journey, drivers also need to pay attention around Leeming Bar and the A1(M).

The modern 4.8km Bedale, Aiskew and Leeming Bar bypass opened in 2016 and connects the A684 with the A1(M) at Junction 51. It was designed in part to remove through traffic from local communities and improve safety and journey reliability.

For drivers, the important thing is to recognise the change in environment. Moving between motorway, roundabouts and rural single-carriageway roads means speeds and traffic patterns can change quickly.

Give yourself enough time to read the signs, choose the correct lane and react to other vehicles.

Five things to remember on the A684

• Slow down before villages, bends and junctions.
• Take particular care through West Witton, Bainbridge, Hawes and the wider Wensleydale section.
• Expect tractors, cyclists, motorcyclists and tourist traffic.
• Don’t overtake unless you can clearly see that it’s safe.
• Reduce your speed when weather, visibility or road conditions deteriorate.

A beautiful road still needs your full attention

For many local motorists, the A684 is an everyday road. For others, it’s the route into some of the most attractive parts of the Yorkshire Dales. Either way, it deserves your full attention.

The journey from Leeming to Sedbergh covers very different types of road and driving conditions. What feels appropriate near the A1(M) may not be appropriate through Wensleydale or on the narrower roads towards Garsdale and Sedbergh.

Give yourself a little more time, leave a little more space and don’t take unnecessary chances.