The Ferry Best Destinations For Ice Cream
Very little says “I’m on holiday” more than an ice cream on the beach, so as we still have a few weeks left to make the most of the summer, experts at ferry industry body, Discover Ferries have assessed local knowledge and scoured reviews to rank the best places to indulge in the British Isles and Europe.
Image Photo by Zach Camp on Unsplash
With a range of ports that can be reached from the UK coastline, a wealth of incredible ice cream destinations are just a ferry crossing away and you can catch the sea breeze en route.
The UK’s best ice cream parlour Crave, Ventnor, Isle of Wight
Crave regularly tops Trip Advisor rankings as the UK’s best ice cream parlour. Located in the seaside town of Ventnor, Crave is renowned for its wide range of handmade ice cream. Sitting alongside classic flavours are Crave’s creations, School Dinner Sprinkle Cake, Raspberry & Lime Pavlova and Spiced Rum & Raisin made with rum from the local Mermaid distillery. Dine in to reminisce in the nostalgic ice cream parlour decor or head onto the Isle of Wight’s southernmost holiday beach and enjoy one of England’s best traditional seaside resorts. Beneath the Victorian town and gardens with rocky waterfalls is Ventnor’s red shingle and golden sand beach, which is famed for its vintage beach huts – once bathing machines, these had wheels to transport the gentry to the sea to bathe. These can still be hired for the day as can deckchairs, sun loungers and wind breaks, all are hammered into the sand for you with an old wooden mallet.
• Get across the Solent with Hovertravel from £24.60 for an adult single, Red Funnel from £22.75 each way or £19.60 each way with Wightlink.
An ice cream legacy, Morelli's Ice Cream, Northern Ireland
With a legacy dating back to 1911, Morelli's Ice Cream in Portrush and Portstewart is an iconic Northern Irish gem and a must-stop for visitors to the Giant’s Causeway. The proof of this pudding is in the fresh double cream and butter from the historic Ballyrashane Creamery, which is produced from cows that graze on Northern Ireland’s lush, green pastures.
Ice cream clearly runs in the family here; the parlour was established five generations ago by Peter Morelli when he left Italy. His brother Joe set up his own award-winning ice cream business in Broadstairs, Kent which now has branches in London, Dubai and Monaco. Golfers must try the new flavour "Golf", a fresh scoop of ice cream served in a cone is designed to represent a golf ball perfectly balanced on a tee. Created to celebrate the Open returning to Portrush, the flavour emulates the air on the Northern Irish fairway and is a combination of Italian Mint, coastal Sea Buckthorn and a Ceremonial Matcha blended into Morelli's award-winning Double Cream with Vanilla base.
• Sail from Cairnryan in Scotland to Larne from £139 each way with P&O Ferries or from Cairnryan or Liverpool to Belfast from £149 each way with Stena Line.
Simple pleasures at Banktbakkerij Van Der Linde, Amsterdam
Established in 1937, the bakery is a must-visit and attracts queues of Dutch and international visitors waiting for ice cream. Only available in one flavour, this delicious, whipped ice cream is simple and perfectly refreshing on a summer’s day.
• Sail to Amsterdam with DFDS from £69 each way, take an Amsterdam mini cruise with P&O Ferries from £65 each way or Stena Line from £73.12 for a car and driver each way.
Sensational sundaes at Sanchez L’Artisan Glacier, St Malo
Known for generous portions, come hungry! Located in the beautiful walled city of Saint-Malo, this parlour is a local favourite for authentic French ice cream. As well as decadent sundaes, it also serves waffles, milkshakes and pastries so there is plenty of choice. Enjoy a vast array of classic and creative flavours, including the nougat ice cream with salted butter, and walk off the sugar rush with a stroll along the ancient ramparts. Sanchez also sells fantastic caramel beurre sale, or Salted Caramel by the jar, made with Brittany’s famous salted butter – a regional delicacy worth taking home! Sanchez received Travellers’ Choice from Trip Advisor in 2024.
• Travel to St Malo as a foot passenger from £47 per person with Brittany Ferries. Fares are based on two people booking a 24-hour return fare and sharing a 2-berth en suite cabin on the outward overnight sailing.
Amazing sea views at Troytown Farm, Isles of Scilly
Made on St Agnes, Troytown ice cream has a luxurious thick creamy texture, thanks to the fresh whole milk and cream sourced from the island’s herds of Jersey and Ayrshire cows. Made in small batches, the dairy offers more than 30 flavours. Visitors can buy a cone or individual pot for immediate enjoyment looking out to the Atlantic Ocean from the white sandy beach. Or, if you’re staying at the farm’s campsite, splash out on a family size tub and share after dinner.
• Sail from Penzance with Isles of Scilly Travel, day return tickets start from £35.
The best vegan soft serve, Gelatory, Isle of Man
Serving up Italian-style gelato, this Isle of Man institution serves flavours such as Roasted Bananas and Toffee, Pistachio Fudge Ripple and Salted Gold Chocolate & Salted Caramel. It is also known for some of the best vegan soft serve on the island including the tart Raspberry & Passionfruit or Vegan Chocolate Orange. Gelatory has locations in Ramsey, Douglas and Peel and Gelatory soft serve is even served on board Isle of Man Steam Packet Company’s Manannan ferry, so visitors can get their dessert fix on board.
• Foot passengers can travel from £26 each way.
Award-winning dairy ice cream on the Isle of Arran
This family-run dairy only uses milk produced by the cows that roam Arran’s green pastures making it extra creamy. While award-winning flavours are available across Scotland, there’s no better place to taste the ice cream than on Arran – the dairy is just a stone’s throw from the ferry terminal meaning ice cream should be your first port of call! Creations include Raspberry Ripple and Chocolate as well as the popular Scottish Tablet.
• Sail to Arran with Caledonian Macbrayne from £5.10 each way.
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London’s friendliest Gelateria, Two Little Giraffes, Battersea
This friendly coffee shop has scored 4.9 on Google reviews and has been noted for its delicious gelato made with local ingredients. Flavour combinations such as Cinnamon, Waffle & Pecan Ripple, Blueberry Cheesecake, Stracciatella and Amalfi Lemon Sorbet will have you salivating. Not in the mood for ice cream? It also severs Italy’s favourite pick me up, Tiramisu and a Pistachio variant too.
• The coolest way to get there? On the river of course! Alight at Uber Boat by Thames Clippers’ Battersea Power Station pier.
Belgian chocolate ice cream at Gelateria Da Vinci, Bruges
With an array of flavours, this may be the most difficult decision you have to make. Visitors praise the Amarena – made with fresh cherries – and Kinder Bueno flavours but it would be criminal to go to Bruges and not indulge in chocolate – there is even a vegan chocolate variety for those who are dairy-free.
• Travel to Bruges via ferry services to Calais with Irish Ferries from £54 each way, from £92 with P&O Ferries or travel to Dunkirk or Calais from £89 each way with DFDS. Day trips start from as little as £45 for a car and up to 9 passengers
Taste Ireland’s best ice cream at Murphy’s Ice Cream, Dublin
In 2000, the Murphy brothers set out to make the best ice cream in the world – it’s ranked number #1 by Trip Advisor for desserts in Dublin. Produced in Dingle, an area denoted for its Irish speaking community, this truly Irish ice cream is made from the superior milk of the rare indigenous breed of Kerry cow. Try flavours such as Irish Brown Bread, Chocolate Whisky and the bestselling Dingle Sea Salt, which is made with sea water straight from the Atlantic that is filtered and boiled down ready to counteract the sweetness of the ice cream. There are shops across Ireland, including one in Dublin, which is convenient for ferry travellers.
• Sail to Dublin from as little as £10 return with day trip tickets or take your car across to explore the Emerald Isle. Fares start from £132 each way with Irish Ferries or £149 each way with Stena Line.
Visit Discover Ferries for more destination inspiration.
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