13 of the best places to get ice cream in Scotland

Some call Aberdeenshire ‘castle country’, but for the purposes of this article we’re renaming it ‘ice cream country’. This time we’re in Portsoy, where the attractive uphill town centre has fascinating streets winding down to a remarkable harbour. Portsoy Ice Cream is a family run business in the town with a great reputation – from salted caramel to raspberry & Drambuie sorbet, they have an ice cream for everyone. Day trips in the area include whisky distilleries like Glenglassaugh and the family-friendly Macduff Aquarium.

Falkirk and the surrounding area is bursting with brilliant contrasts. The area is home to some outstanding attractions, including The Kelpies, The Helix, The Falkirk Wheel, Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway, The Antonine Wall, and The John Muir Way to name but a few. Ice cream aficionados will enjoy a trip to The Milk Barn, where Alistair the farmer milks the cows in the morning and carries the milk to his wife Suzannah who creates the luxurious product. That’s how it works!

Recognise the name? The pretty town of Cullen in Moray is the birthplace of the hearty Scottish dish Cullen skink. But if it’s ice cream you’re looking for then pay a visit to The Ice Cream Shop. Here you’ll be able to fill up on a range of different flavours as well as traditional boiled sweets in jars. Enjoy a lovely walk on Cullen Beach, where there are plenty of coastal trails to follow.

Orkney may be famous for its standing stones and Neolithic monuments but it’s also an amazing place for ice cream. Orkney Ice Cream is renowned for its amazing taste and you’ll find it throughout the islands and beyond. Orkney’s capital, Kirkwall, is the perfect place to try this local delicacy – just pop into Sinclair’s Ice Cream Parlour. You’ll find fudge on sale here too. What’s more, you’re only a short walk away from St Magnus’ Cathedral, one of Orkney’s best sights.

St Andrews needs no introduction – this historic university town doubles up as the Home of Golf and is a fine place to experience Scottish hospitality. Award-winning Jannettas Gelateria is our top tip for ice cream in the town, a family run enterprise with over 50 flavours to choose from. If you’re a golfer, you’ll love the R&A World Golf Museum and there’s nothing like a family walk along St Andrews beach.

Famous for its racecourse and golf courses, Musselburgh is also home to Luca’s Ice Cream who have been in business for over 100 years. Whether you’re spending the day at Musselburgh Races or visiting fab attractions like Musselburgh Harbour or Pinkie House Castle, make sure to stop in for your favourite ice cream, or try new flavours including toffee fudgy wudgy.

Eyemouth is a historic fishing town with beautiful coastal scenery – a great place to take a break by the Scottish seaside. For ice cream, stop in at Giacopazzi’s, a family enterprise that has been operating in Eyemouth since 1898. Things to do before or after your ice cream include a beach walk or stroll to the harbour where you’ll find Gunsgreen House. This popular attraction and museum was once at the heart of the illicit smuggling trade of wine, spirits, tea and tobacco.

Just a short two-mile hike away from one of Scotland’s most dramatic attractions, Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven is a lovely harbour town to visit. For ice cream, stop in at Aunt Betty’s where you can try some wonderful things, including a bubblegum fudge sundae – yum. For a savoury treat you could also try fish and chips at The Bay. All this should set you up well for a walk to Dunnottar up the coast – or a nap!

Ullapool has all the charm you would expect from a northern fishing town, and a few things you might not expect. There is a wealth of varied walks in the area including mountains, rocky coasts and long inland footpaths with a number of the finest summits in the north west Highlands nearby. Epic natural sights like the Falls of Measach and Corrieshalloch Gorge are within easy reach too. For your ice cream fix, take a trip to Gelato Ullapool.

Enjoy the best of the Scottish seaside in picturesque North Berwick. Just a short train ride from Edinburgh, this bustling town has beaches, golf courses, shops and attractions to keep the whole family entertained. Holding the title for Royal Highland Show Scottish Ice Cream Champions 2021, family run Alanda’s Gelato is the perfect place to grab an ice cream. Don’t miss the Scottish Seabird Centre by the harbour – a top family attraction.

Our search for incredible ice cream goes inland now to Perthshire. Stewart Tower Dairy, just north of Perth, makes specialist Italian gelato-style ice cream with their herd of Holstein Friesian cows acting as the backbone of the operation. On your trip to this pastoral part of Scotland, the spellbinding landscapes will leave you feeling awestruck. Popular attractions in the area include Scone Palace, once the crowning place of Scottish kings, and Perth Museum & Art Gallery.

Nestled on the Firth of Clyde, Largs is a charming Scottish seaside resort, complete with a Victorian promenade and a choice of ice cream parlours and shops. Check out Nardini’s, which has been around since 1935 in a distinctive art deco building. As well as tasting the ice cream you can see how it is made in the onsite factory – proper Willy Wonka stuff. While in Largs don’t miss Kelburn Castle & Country Park. This 13th century castle might take you by surprise – the outer walls have been painted in bright and bold eye-catching designs by Brazilian graffiti artists.

Four miles east of Dundee, Broughty Ferry is a fun suburb of the city with a good selection of pubs and restaurants. You can also pick up an ice cream at local favourite Visocchi’s. Along with nearby Dundee’s many attractions, Broughty Ferry has some of its own too – among them Broughty Castle and Museum, and Monikie Country Park which has guided walks, self-led trails, barbecue hire and an adventure play park.