British breaks: Suffolk

What's on

Haydn and Mendelssohn are highlights of this year's East Anglian Summer Festival (minstrelmusic.co. uk), to 2 August at The Old School, Hadleigh. While the eclectic programme for the Snape Proms (Aldeburgh.co.uk), at Snape Maltings near Aldeburgh from 1 to 31 August, features the Britten-Pears Orchestra, Curtis Stiger, Kit and the Widow, and Tibetan Monks.

Peasenhall leads the county's wackier summertime pursuits with the World Pea Podding Championship, which takes place today. Try pea shooting or pea throwing, too. Or go to Walberswick on 9 August for the British Open Crabbing Championship (explorewalberswick.co.uk/crabbing). Land the heaviest crab to win a medal and £50, while also helping to raise money for charity.

You can also see behind the scenes at Newmarket Racecourse (newmarket racecourses.co.uk) on Newmarket Experience Day on 15 August. Note, children get free entry to race meetings every Saturday in July and August, with children's entertainment, including fairground rides.

See the sights

Stretch your legs with the help of Walk East (visiteastofengland .com/things-to-do/walking/), which is opening up the local coast and countryside for casual strollers and serious ramblers alike. It includes the 60-mile Sandlings Walk, from Ipswich to Southwold, a Route of the Month, and days out such as a circular walk around Dunwich and Walberswick villages. Then there's Ride East (visiteastofengland .com/things-to-do/cycling), a similar idea for cyclists, including family-friendly traffic-free options, and more serious challenges such as the 88-mile circular route from north of Felixstowe to Orford, Blaxhall, Bruisyard, Woodbridge and back.

Check out the tourist board's two-for-one and child-free entry to various attractions (visiteastof england.com/lets-go/), including West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village.

Further information

For more ideas and accommodation, go to visiteastofengland.co.uk .