Top 5 ice creams in North Wales

Our two girls and I had a fantastic day in Harlech on Sunday and enjoyed sitting on the castle walls eating ice creams whilst watching all the tourists go by. The sun is still out today so I’ve been inspired to write a little article called the Top 5 ice creams in North Wales. No scientific taste tests here unfortunately, just some random recommendations. (Although I do eat a lot of Ice cream, but I’m not sure that makes me an expert.)

Cadwaladers Ice Cream

The original Cadwaladers Ice Cream palor in Criccieth was a big part of my childhood. I have lots of happy memories of rushing into the shop with my cousins. Buying huge vanilla cones before walking down to the beach and skimming pebbles over the waves with my cousins.
They’ve grown much bigger now and have outlets all over North Wales but that first shop in Criccieth which opened in 1927 apparently, still has a soft spot in my heart. Although it would be nice if the girl behind the counter would learn a little welsh. (In case anybody with influence is listening.) Vanilla is always the way to go at Cadwaladers.
http://www.cadwaladersicecream.co.uk/

Glaslyn Ices

Located in one of the most picturesque villages in North Wales, Glaslyn Ices have developed quite a reputation for producing some really high quality and popular Ice Creams and Sorbets including the prestigious Champions of Champions’ award from Cadbury for their Chocolate Ice Cream. If you’re in the area Beddgelert is worth a visit in it’s own right but if the sun’s shining you’d be foolish not to pop in to Glaslyn Ices whilst there. My recommendation would be to then walk up along the riverbank and across to Gelert’s grave stone. I’ll leave you to find out about the story behind this famous hound and his burial place.
http://www.glaslynices.co.uk/

Parisellas’s of Conwy

Parisella’s icecream van is another of my childhood memories. My Nain (Grandmother) used to live in Colwyn Bay on the North Wales coast. A visit there would always include a walk along the prom. The beach and the sea were all great I’m sure but I’d always be looking out for that Parisella Van. I have to be honest, I haven’t had one of their ice creams for a long time, but a quick check on their website seems to show that the their still going strong and have outlets on Conwy Quay and Llandudno as well as the van that I remember. There are some great old sypia pictures of a proper Italian family on there as well if you want to check it out.
http://www.parisellasicecream.co.uk/

Plas Farm

What used to be Denbigh Farmhouse ice cream has been recently relabeled as Plas Farm Ice Cream. David Williams started the business using milk from his dairy herd at Plas Farm on Anglesey. The ice cream is still produced there so the relabeling makes sense I guess. Anglesey has long been famous for its food production and dairy products in particular. Plas Farm has continued that tradition. Indeed, their Bara Brith ice cream recently won the Dairy Product of The Year Award at the True Taste Wales Event. So for once, an expert opinion.
http://www.plas-farm.co.uk/

Hufenfa’r Castell

As it says in the shop window, probably the best Ice cream made in Harlech. To be fair, Eddie and Jeanne could probably expand their claim a bit further than that. What’s great about this little shop is that the producers are there, serving the ice cream. Jeanne can tell you when and where she picked the strawberries, what farm produced the milk. Probably not the name of the cow, but you know what I mean. But most importantly the ice cream just tastes fantastic. Our girls always go for the sorbets but I’m a bit more of a traditionalist and really enjoyed the Elderflower on Sunday.
http://www.hufenfa.co.uk/