The Cake Run - Red Route 119

Route 119 between Cranbrook and Tenterden is famous for one reason - it's brutally steep. Locals call it the Cake Run, and once you're climbing it, you'll understand why. The gradient is genuinely punishing, especially on a bike, which is why it's become something of a pilgrimage for cyclists testing themselves against one of Kent's most notorious hills.

There's not much to see at the top beyond the satisfaction of having made it. No visitor centre, no gift shop, just a proper sense of achievement and open countryside spreading out behind you. Drivers barely notice it unless they're towing something. Walkers might tackle it for the challenge, but it's not a scenic ramble - this is about the climb itself.

Cyclists get the most from it. Road bikers particularly love it as a training route, and the Cake Run has featured in local sportive events. If you're into that sort of thing, it's genuinely worth timing a visit to Cranbrook around it. Everyone else? Unless you're driving a heavily laden vehicle and fancy gritting your teeth for a couple of miles, it's probably skippable.

It works well enough as a diversion if you're staying at nearby Glassenbury Camping or The Original Hut Company - both are close enough for an afternoon outing. Just go in with realistic expectations. You're not here for the view; you're here for the bragging rights.