I didn’t have to cycle all the way up here, the road to Easingwold leaves Crayke early in the climb, but as I’m going to be tackling lots of hills in the Yorkshire Dales next month, I kept going to the top of the village.

Crayke is a sinister looking village when seen from the floor of the Vale of York. It rises like a fortress from the flat lands around, and the outline of a large stone built house and the church on the skyline reinforce the image.

Inside it’s charming and the pub, The Durham Ox, has a deserved reputation for good food. But the road is steep and a small shower of rain welcomed me as I sweated and ached. Just a couple of miles to Easingwold from here – mostly downhill.

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