The weather is beginning to get warmer here in the UK, and if there’s one thing that we can’t get enough of in the hot summer months, it’s ice cream. There is something so nostalgic about going for a deliciously creamy treat that reminds us of summer holidays both at home and abroad.
Thankfully, the county of Cumbria is home to some fantastic ice cream producers and suppliers, meaning you don’t have to travel far to get great quality traditional ice cream and gelato at your nearest ice cream shop or ice cream farm. Whether on the coast or in the popular tourist towns of the Lake District National Park, you’re never far from a great ice cream in Cumbria.
From classic vanilla to a sundae with all the toppings, here’s a list of where to get a lick of the best ice cream in Cumbria.
A family run business based in Kendal that has been trading for over two decades, Luxury Lakes Ice Cream is one of the biggest stockists of ice cream in Cumbria, supplying numerous cafes and shops in the area and beyond. Among many other stockists located across the region, you can find their delicious ice cream at the kiosk at Brockhole on the shore of Windermere.
The Luxury Lakes Ice Cream company use local ingredients wherever possible to create their traditional English ice cream and they have a huge range of flavours available including their famous Thunder & Lightning ice cream. The unique flavour combination of rich chocolate sauce and sticky cinder toffee pieces with dairy ice cream was supposedly named after a swirling storm above Kendal which resembled the product as it was first being made.
The Little Ice Cream Shop make over 40 flavours of delicious small batch, slow churned gelato in their Hawkshead shop in the heart of the Lake District. Don’t be misled by the word ‘little’ though as their scoops are in fact quite the opposite. With delicious waffle cones and an array of toppings and sauces, The Little Ice Cream Shop is a must-visit when in the area.
Having first opened The Little Ice Cream Shop in Hawkshead in 2016, owner Amy expanded her ice cream empire in 2018 and opened a second ice cream parlour in Windermere. As well as deliciously creamy gelato made with local milk and cream, they also make some irresistible sorbets, dairy free flavours and they even have a doggy ice cream option so your pup can get in on the action too.
The Milking Parlour make all their artisan ice cream using fresh milk from their family farm in Burrow, less than three miles from their ice cream shop in Kirkby Lonsdale. All their yummy artisan ice cream is made to a traditional Italian Gelato recipe, promising over 20 tempting flavours to choose from including dairy and gluten free options.
If you’re looking for the perfect treat to cool off in the warmer weather, The Milking Parlour has certainly got you covered. What’s more, they serve freshly made waffles topped with homemade gelato, deliciously thick ice cream milkshakes and hot chocolate and locally roasted coffee. You can also purchase pint or litre take home tubs to enjoy their scrumptious gelato at home!
Located near Penrith in Cumbria, Abbott Lodge is a working dairy farm set in the spectacular scenery of the Eden Valley. The farm produces over 40 delicious flavours of quality homemade Jersey ice cream from their Pedigree Jersey Cows, of which at any time a whopping 16 types are available on site. Using the milk from their very own cows, they also serve some super taste cakes in their tearoom to tempt your taste buds.
Apart from the obvious attraction of their ice cream, Abbott Lodge is the perfect day out for families with young children as they have both indoor and outdoor play areas to keep the kids entertained. They also offer a tractor ride for children under 8 and you can visit their Jersey Cows and calves in the nearby field.
Established in 2009, Mawsons Ice Cream Parlour is a wonderful ice cream shop based in the picturesque seaside village of Seascale in west Cumbria. Using the milk and cream from their own herd of cows, they have made over 150 flavours of small batch traditional English ice cream to date. As well as supplying the ice cream parlour, they also have a milk round delivering to doorsteps locally and an ice cream trailer available to hire for weddings, events and private parties.
Kimi’s Gelato Bar is a family-run gelato kitchen and parlour in the idyllic Cumbrian village of Staveley, bringing authentic Italian Gelato to the Lake District. Thanks to their purpose-built gelato laboratory, the possibilities to create unique and exciting flavours is infinite and they offer an ever-changing roster of flavours in the parlour including some seasonal surprises. With easy access from the A591, the main road from Kendal to Windermere, this ice cream shop is a must-visit if you’re in the area!
Cumbrian Cow Ice Cream is an on-farm ice cream parlour located on the outskirts of Ulverston. Since launching in 2016, Cumbrian Cow has grown hugely in popularity resulting in them introducing a drive-through ordering system. Their scrumptious range of farm-made gelato ice cream is made using milk from their pedigree Holstein herd which you might be able to catch a glimpse of when you visit. As well as freshly made ice cream, you’ll also find a tasty variety of hot waffles, sundaes and indulgent milkshakes here so whatever sweet treat you’re in the mood for, Cumbrian Cow have got you covered!
The Handmade Ice Cream Company produce gourmet artisan ice cream in Greenodd, just outside of Ulverston. As well as ice cream, they make what goes into their ice creams including their own gingerbreads, sticky toffee puddings, caramels, toffees, fruit compotes and fruit purees, meaning they don’t use any artificial flavours or preservatives, instead only the finest natural ingredients.
As well as freshly made ice cream, their menu includes churros, waffles, sundaes, hot chocolates, hot cookie dough, crepes, milkshakes, coffees and specialty teas so there really is something for everyone. We’re sure that once you visit this ice cream parlour you’ll be back for more!
A new name to the Cumbrian ice cream scene, Three Hills Gelato have plenty of gelato making experience having run Gelato Casa Bella in Keswick for 10 years. The ice cream farm, which is partnered with Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy near the village of Torpenhow on the northern edge of the Lake District, use milk from their pasture fed Jersey/Friesian herd to produce an impressive range of authentic Italian gelato flavours.
Three Hills Gelato experimented making gelato using their milk and were so impressed they decided to move gelato production to the farm, simplifying production and reducing the distance the milk must travel. By using organic milk and cream, Three Hills Cumbrian Gelato guarantee that their gelato is not only delicious, but also free from any harmful chemicals or additives.
Since opening their café and tearoom in 2005, Wellington Farm have been making their very own Jersey Ice Cream. Selling exclusively from their café and tearoom, Wellington Farm boast a vast variety of flavours with 16 available to enjoy at all times. They also have an outdoor ice cream kiosk on the farm which stocks plenty of ice cream cones and tubs, waffles, pancakes and milkshakes. As well as their traditional scoops served in cones and tubs, they make a variety of special ice cream deserts and thick ice cream milkshakes which are definitely worth a whirl.
There you have it – Cumbria is certainly not short of fantastic ice cream shops to satisfy your sweet cravings no matter where you are in the region. The talents of local Cumbrian producers goes much further than our ice cream suppliers though as the region is home to a large number of award-wining whiskey and gin suppliers, bakers, confectioners, condiment makers, juicers, butchers and pie makers with mouth-watering treats to try.
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce
3rd Floor
Broadacre House
16-20 Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DA
0845 226 00 40
©Cumbria Chamber of Commerce 2023 | By: We Are Digital
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