A921 (Largo - Crail)

This article is about the former A921 between Largo and Crail in south east Fife.
For the current A921 that runs between the A90 near Inverkeithing and Kirkcaldy, see A921.
For the original A921 in Perth, see A921 (Perth).

Falside Bridge on the B9171 (former A921)

The second incarnation of the A921 number was located in the East Neuk of Fife. It came into existence at some point between 1947 and 1955, based on mapping evidence, as a new trunk road running east from Largo towards the coast near Crail, where the trunk route turned north onto the A918. The route bypassed the coastal towns and villages, but didn't pass through any places of significance itself along the way.

Taking over the western end of the A917 from Upper Largo to Balchrystie then the B942 to Easter Pitcorthie, the A921 then took over formerly unclassified roads eastwards via Newton of Balcormo. This section of road was presumably unclassified until the 1940s owing to how winding it was (and still is) so it is therefore surprising that the trunk road went this way rather than along the A917 coast road. Perhaps the lack of settlement on this route was in its favour. However, as can be discovered by driving the route today, very little was done in the way of upgrading the route to make it suitable as a trunk road. While it is S2 throughout, there are a number of sharp bends, and it is currently lined with a couple of TOTSOs and give ways where it meets B roads. Obviously, this may not have been the case when it was the A921, however.

The A921 survived until at least the 1970s, but the 1976 OS Landranger suggests that the trunk route terminates at the A917 junction at Balchrystie. The 1983 OS Atlas shows that the A921 has been downgraded as the coast road has once again been deemed more appropriate and the A921 number has been reused elsewhere in the county, while the trunk route was first diverted onto the A915 and then dispensed with altogether. The parts of the A917 and B942 that were renumbered to form the A921 now have their original number back; the remainder of the road has become the B9171.