Of all the Yorkshire Wolds hills Leavening Bank is the one that I always seem to approach via a leg-sapping loosener. In the case of Leavening Bank it is usually the arrow-straight roller coaster Castle Howard road. Perhaps we should be grateful that this lengthy drag has an early dog leg to get up the first stiff yards as a more direct line up the escarpment would surely be too punishing to bear.

For me a significant attraction of this climb – apart from the pleasantly distracting views over to the left – is the superb descent in to Thixendale that usually follows. Maybe that’s what keeps me motivated as I pedal ‘in squares’ towards that slice of lemon drizzle cake at the village hall.

All smiles as one of the lads makes it to the top of Leavening Bank on our way home from Osmotherley. The Yorkshire Moors are in the background; a cuppa and cake at Rachel’s Walnut Cottage Tea Room in front.

Part way up Leavening Bank you can take a right turn towards Garrowby Hill; by then the hardest effort is behind you. But you will have missed out on the view back over your shoulder that you would have enjoyed had you continued to the junction above Thixendale and the peerless descent of Water Dale.

Leavening Bank as a Strava segment

A ride out to the Howardian Hills and Castle Howard from Hull – home via Leavening Bank. View the ride in Garmin Connect or Strava, but note that on this day I turned right before Thixendale and went over Garrowby Hill