27-04-2025
I tried the UK's best chocolate ice cream and one thing was undeniable about it
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On a beautiful, clear and warm day during the spring or summer season, there is nothing better than to take a stroll through the countryside and end your day with a trip to an ice cream parlour.
And during a recent visit to Beddgelert, I did exactly that. Known as the "jewel" of Eryri, this village attracts thousands of visitors each year, not just for its sad folk story about a faithful hound, but for its amazing surroundings. Here you'll see the jagged outlines of Yr Wyddfa, Moel Hebog, the Nantlle Ridge and Crib Goch.
Two rivers travel through the village - Afon Colwyn and Afon Glaslyn, and the Fisherman's path can take you all the way to Cwm Bychan.
But Beddgelert is also famous for its ice cream parlour - Glaslyn. The family-run business has roots dating back to the 1930s when married couple Joan and Bert Rowley began producing Welsh textile crafts in their factory in Waunfawr.
In the 1970s, the couple bought a gift shop and cafe in Beddgelert and the couple soon turned their hand to crafting food and drink.
(Image: WalesOnline)
And with the aid of their son - Derek Rowley, they started selling soft-serve ice cream to customers but then eventually started serving artisan ice cream.
For the last six years, Derek's daughter, Bonnie Rowley, runs the ice cream parlour and the adjacent pizzeria.
Since Glaslyn has been serving artisan ice cream, the parlour has won dozens of awards over the years. As you walk into the parlour, you can see the walls and shelves are adorned with all kinds of trophies and certificates that date as far back as the 1980s.
This year, the family business found out they had won the prestigious Cadbury Trophy award for their chocolate ice cream. And with this in mind, I decided to try it for myself.
Although we went in early spring and it was during the quieter season, there was plenty on offer at Glaslyn. You could get different ice cream and sorbet flavours - from traditional vanilla to mint choc chip, white chocolate, cheesecake and banoffee.
(Image: WalesOnline)
During my visit, the team told me they had created a Welsh Cake flavour for this St David's Day, and in the past, they had even produced a baked bean flavour for April Fool's Day.
While the idea of a baked bean flavoured ice cream did not tickle my fancy, the chocolate one did. Displayed behind a glass, the ice cream was the perfect brown colour and had a lovely gloss to it.
I don't usually go for chocolate ice cream as I worry sometimes that it can be too sickly. I decided to go for one scoop with a waffle cone.
This chocolate ice cream was anything but sickly. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here .
It was undeniably chocolatey, but it didn't leave my mouth feeling dry and needing a glass of water after it.
(Image: WalesOnline)
Although it was fairly warm on the day of my visit, the ice cream held its shape well, was fresh and cold, and didn't melt quickly. It was creamy, had a smooth consistency and the right amount of sweetness.
The waffle cone felt like the most appropriate cone to go with this ice cream as it almost added a toasted flavour to it, which complemented the chocolate flavour quite well.
It came as no surprise that this was an award-winning ice cream. And the proof, as they say, is clearly in the pudding.
What makes this ice cream incredibly special is the fact that it is made on site, which according to its owner, Bonnie Rowley, is "rare" these days.
(Image: WalesOnline)
During my visit to the ice cream parlour, Bonnie told me: "It was my dad who developed the recipes over the years," she said. "We are lucky that we have such good, solid recipes that we can keep developing."
She continued: "The fact that everything is fresh and is made on site makes a difference. Our values are to produce premium, artisan ice cream, which is local and fresh."
During the same awards ceremony where they won the accolade for their chocolate ice cream, Glaslyn also found out that they got a second for their vanilla flavour, third for their caramelised biscuit flavour and fourth for their passion fruit sorbet.
(Image: WalesOnline)
"I always feel like they are my dad's awards," Bonnie said.
"I know that sounds bizarre because I've run this company for around six years now.
"It always feels like a family and a team thing". She continued: "It doesn't feel like my award, it's everyone's award.
"It's nice for the team, for them to feel that they are a part of a business - a family business in north Wales which produces some of the best ice cream products in the UK."
If you ever find yourself in Beddgelert, it's worth heading to the cafe part of Glaslyn too.
The menu offers all kinds of dishes from breakfast sandwiches and traditional sandwiches, sausage rolls, quiches, soups and pizzas. The latter have all been named after the mountains, rivers and legends of Eryri.
(Image: WalesOnline)
Pizzas have also been quite popular at Glaslyn, so during my visit, I decided to go for the aptly-named Gelert pizza. I also ordered rustic chips, the garlic mayo and hot honey dips to accompany it.
The food came over very promptly, with the pizza and chips piping hot.
The homemade tomato sauce was tangy, sweet and acidic, which balanced well with the creaminess and saltiness of the Fior di Latte mozzarella on top. The dough was cooked perfectly, with no soggy bottom.
(Image: WalesOnline)
The star of the show for me was the hot honey. It offered a unique combination of flavours, with the sweetness of the honey combined with a subtle, spicy kick from chili peppers.
The dips were a great addition to the pizza dish. And the chips were just as tasty, with the right amount of crunch but softness in its centre. I devoured the pizza in a matter of minutes.
