The A38 - A Query!

[TerryFrancis]

No one I know seems to agree on an answer. How many counties does the A38 run through? It gets sticky as some people count Bristol as a county, yet others don't. And some people say West Midlands isn't officially a county (which I'm sure it is).

So, does anyone have a definite answer? Many thanks in advance!

[TerryFrancis]

Pretty certain Avon hasn't existed since 1996.

[TerryFrancis]

Still, by discounting Avon, your answer makes it nine. Which is what I made it too! Phew! I win that argument!

[TerryFrancis]

Then again, it could still be 10! Bristol is a county in it's own right, apparently!

[Cloverjo]

There is North Somerset now, too, as well as Somerset. I'm not sure if Bristol is in there. Definitely no Avon anymore.

[Cloverjo]

Apparently Bristol is a county itself, so with North Somerset and Somerset that makes it 11.

[Cloverjo]

No, forget that bit. North Somerset isn't a county. 10 then is the answer.

[Buenchico]

If you're defining 'counties' on an electoral basis, so that a unitary authority is classed as a 'county' you need to refer to this map:
http://www.cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/ONS%20Map%20UK%20local%20authorities%202009.pdf

If you're defining 'counties' as the present ceremonial counties (as recognised by H M Government), you need the left-hand map here:
http://communities.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Compare/storytelling_compare/index.html?appid=7b0e661ef66b4a7aacb5a9acf55108ac

If you're defining 'counties' as the historic ceremonial counties, use the centre map from that link.

If you want to try to make sense of it all, see here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-27140505
(but don't worry when you end up totally baffled - that happens to everyone!)

[waterboatman]

You could say South Gloucestershire is a county too.

The A38 is the longest road in the country.

[waterboatman]

The A1 is indeed the longest numbered road in the UK. Finishing in Scotland. Two countries.

The A38 is the longest road entirely in the country.

[Old_Geezer]

Bristol is a city that was given county status. I'm unsure having the status of a county makes it a county. I'm also unsure if that status remained when they tried the Avon experiment.