Welsh Ice Cream At Its Best

A summer holiday in Wales comes hand in hand with enjoying a Welsh ice cream. Whether after a long day at the beach, walking around historic towns or rewarding yourself after a day in the mountains. Long gone are the days where your options were confined to a Mr Whippy with a flake or a strawberry Mivi (Although those Mivis were lovely). The rise of artisan ice cream makers means an offering of far more exciting and tantalising flavours. It doesn’t stop there. The cone and topping options are a game changer – who could choose a cornet over a waffle cone covered in rainbow sprinkles?

Using local ingredients they taste delicious – fresh fruit sorbets and wonderful combinations of honeycomb and white chocolate just melt in the mouth. We have some really wonderful local brands. You should definitely give a try if you are here on holiday in Snowdonia – here is Welsh Ice Cream at its best…

Cadwaladers| Criccieth

Probably the most famous local brand, Cadwalders originated in Criccieth on the Llyn Peninsula. They still use the original recipe from 1927 for their famous vanilla ice cream which is why they have a very loyal customer following. They have a number of shops in the area, including Criccieth, Porthmadog, and Betws Y Coed. Along with the traditional ice cream offering, they have amazing sundaes and milkshakes too.

Hufenfa | Harlech

Hufenfa means creamery in Welsh (the single ‘f’ in Welsh is pronounced ‘V’ to help you with the pronunciation). Based in Harlech, these guys make the freshest and most delicious ice cream and sorbets. It is so fresh in fact that when my kids were little, we would go bilberry picking in the local forests. Delivering buckets of berries to be made into ice cream the next day and we got paid in ice cream – wonderful! The flavours change depending on what fruit is in season. But of course have their staples – honeycomb and Welsh cream are great and their sorbets are quite simply out of this world.

Glaslyn Ices | Beddgelert

If you’ve ever been to Beddgelert, then the chances are you are familiar with this award winning ice cream parlour. It has been listed in the top 10 ice cream parlours in the UK. With over 40 years of experience making fresh ice cream and sorbets in the parlour. It’s safe to say you’ll be making a point of stopping in at Beddgelert for an ice cream fix on your Snowdonia excursions. I know we do! They have a pizzeria attached and with its setting near the river in stunning Beddgelert, it is certainly a place to make a point of visiting.

Scoops | Caernarfon

Nestled in the streets of Caernarfon is Scoops. Home to an artisan ice cream and dutch pancake cafe. Their ice cream laboratory is set down in the cellar where they hand craft ice creams every morning. ‘Dragon’ is their signature flavour using dragon fruit which gives a colourful, velvety sweet and fruity creation. Along with the ice creams, there are wonderful pancakes and sundaes.

The Looking Glass Ice Cream Parlour

Taking its inspiration from the Llandudno and Alice In Wonderland links, The Looking Glass Icecream Parlour is a wonderful mix of handmade ice cream and the fantasy that is Alice in Wonderland. Everything from waffles, banana splits and, crepes are on offer. You can choose what you want on them individually – no pre-set combinations which is great and lets the imagination run wild!

Knickerbockers | Barmouth

Now these guys don’t make their ice cream. But for sheer amazing offerings in terms of flavours, toppings and combinations, it really doesn’t get much better than this. Referred to as ‘Willy Wonker on steroids’, I think totally sums it up. Kids will just go crazy when they step foot in the shop (and after). Even as an adult, just going in there makes you feel so good! Everything is presented beautifully. The sparkly unicorn tray, lots of soft ice cream with rainbow sweets, hundreds and thousands, strawberry sauce and the cutest little unicorn on a stick. What is not to love about this!