From axe throwing in Haverhill to gin in Stoke by Nayland, we discover nine unusual Father’s Day gift experiences in Suffolk

June 18 – it is a day for the fathers and father figures in the world.

If you want to celebrate the dad in your life but a pair of socks just will not do, we have compiled nine quirky or unusual gift ideas from across Suffolk which could make the perfect present.

From axe throwing to a gin distillery tour to an assault course, read on for some Father’s Day inspiration.

The Playground, Barrow

Do you have a closet commando in your ranks? Maybe an assault course experience would put dad through his paces.

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Since it opened in 2016, the Playground has welcomed more than 80,000 visitors through its doors and over its obstacles.

The course at the Playground in Barrow, near Bury St Edmunds, is 1km long and has more than 30 obstacles for dad to try on his own – or with family and friends.

Anyone over the age of seven can take part, taking on the cargo net crawl, tricky rope climbs and warped walls.

Dad can play for £21 – for more information, go to https://www.theplaygrounduk.com/

Adnams Southwold brewery tour

Discover how Southwold brewery Adnams brews its beers, with a tour.

Led by an experienced guide, visitors will be able to look behind the scenes and follow the brewing process from grain to glass, while exploring Southwold’s brewing heritage. Each tour is followed by a tasting.

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The experience lasts about 90 minutes and at the end, visitors will receive a voucher for the Southwold store.

This is an experience only for only 18s.

The tour costs £25 – for more information go to https://adnams.co.uk/products/brewery-tour

Jet Adventures, South Pier, Lowestoft

From seeing huge ships up close to the sunset at sea, Jet Adventures, in Lowestoft, could have a maritime adventure for dad’s this Father’s Day.

One of its popular tours is Scroby Sands seal watching, a sightseeing and nature trip departing from Heritage Quay and heading north to Scroby Sands, past Lowestoft, Gorleston and Great Yarmouth beaches.

The boat slows near the seals to avoid disturbing them.

Dad could even take man’s best friend along for the experience (although advance notice is needed to ensure a dog lifejacket is available in the right size).

The tour costs £38. For more information, go to https://www.jetadventures.co.uk/

Archery at High Lodge

Dad can take aim at an archery experience with High Lodge Archery, near Thetford and Brandon.

Sessions include fun target practice, games and challenges, suitable for complete beginners or those who have tried archery before.

All sessions are for a maximum of 12 people, last 90 minutes, include equipment and cost £22 per person

For more information, go to or call 01986 784347.

Suffolk Distillery Experiences

Dad can see behind the scenes at a tour and tasting experience at Suffolk Distillery, at Munros Barn in Stoke by Nayland, near Sudbury, on the edge of the Dedham Vale area of outstanding natural beauty

Follow the journey of ingredients to learn how hand-crafted spirits are made, while there will also be an opportunity to taste spirits and appreciate how the distiller extracts flavours and aromas.

The tours are held Monday-Thursday at 2pm and on Fridays and Saturdays at noon.

For more information and to book, go to https://www.suffolkdistillery.co.uk/product/suffolk-distillery-gin-tasting-tours-bookings/

Go Ape At High Lodge, near Brandon

High Lodge, near Brandon, is where the Go Ape story started back in 2002 and it is now home to six forest adventures.

Challenge Plus is the newest and most demanding high ropes course and is only suitable for over 16s.

It is a dialled-up version of the original Treetop Challenge, designed to test participants’ mental grit and physical boundaries, with three new sites of crossings and super-fast (and super-long) exhilarating zip wires.

Do you think your dad has what it takes for Challenge Plus? Go Ape warns the course is physically challenging and requires a good level of fitness and strength.

Challenge Plus costs £40. For more information and to book, go to https://goape.co.uk/locations/thetford/challenge-plus

Explore 4×4 Skid Pan Training

There is no feeling like the rush of panic when your car goes into a skid, but Explore 4×4 offers skid pan driving sessions to teach drivers how to manage the situation.

Held on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, the sessions are ideal for all driver dads – whether experienced or new behind the wheel – and are an enjoyable way for him to learn new driving skills that could be life-saving.

During the skid pan training expert driving instructors demonstrate skid control and braking and then participants have the chance for hands-on learning how to control and correct skids using front and rear wheel drive vehicles.

Skid pan sessions cost £120 per person – for more information and to book, go to https://explore-4×4.co.uk/

Wild Blades axe throwing, Barrow and Haverhill

Ready, aim, throw – get ready to sling axes and bullseyes and split wood at the ultimate axe throwing experience with Wild Blades, which has sites in Barrow, near Bury St Edmunds, and in Haverhill.

Dads can enjoy an hour enjoying a demonstration, practice and challenges with a retained instructor on a safe outdoor six-lane range.

The experience costs £25 for adults (£30 juniors and £80 for a family ticket, ages eight-plus).

For more information and to book, go to https://wildblades.co.uk/home

Beccles Skydive

Our final adventurous idea this Father’s Day involves jumping from an aeroplane at 13,000ft.

Would your dad be brave enough for a tandem skydive with UK Parachuting, at Beccles?

Plunging down to earth at speeds of more than 120 mph would be a memorable experience of a lifetime for any over 16s (no upper age limit).

For more information, go to https://ukparachuting.co.uk/special-offers-beccles/

This summer, the centre is offering early evening tandem skydives for the offer price of £199.