The choices, oh, the choices! (Glaslyn Ices and Glandwr Cafe (Beddgelert))

Member Name: i_am_joy

Product:	Glaslyn Ices and Glandwr Cafe (Beddgelert)
Date:	01/06/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Wonderful ice cream, a wide selection of flavours and cones available, reasonably priced

Disadvantages: None at all

During our trip to North Wales over Easter, my sister and I found the beautiful little village of Beddgelert which is nestled in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. After an hour or so wandering around the village we spotted a crowd of people outside a shop and decided to have a look to see what all the excitement was about; I won't beat about the bush, it was a glorious looking ice cream shop which we hadn't noticed as we walked around the village. Of course, on that unseasonably warm April afternoon an ice cream was just called for as we sat next to the babbling river which runs through Beddgelert and watched the world go by.

The first thing you'll need to know about Glaslyn Ices is the fact that they do not operate a queuing system, in much the same way as you'd be served in a pub you need to edge your way to the front and make it obvious that you know what you want in order for one of the flustered members of staff to serve you. I found this a little strange if I'm honest as neither myself nor my sister are terribly forceful people so we ended up missing our turn several times until a lovely young lad who was serving spotted us standing around like lemons!

Glaslyn Ices sell at least forty different ice cream and sorbet flavours, I was lucky enough to try two flavours as I ate mine and then my sister's grandson decided he didn't want his so I finished that one off too! All of the different flavours are beautifully displayed in a specially constructed glass chiller counter, each has a label telling you what the ice cream is going to taste of and the labelling is all done very clearly so that even the easiest confused person (me!) can pick out a flavour to enjoy in the sunshine.

You also have a choice of cones; standard wafer cones, sugar cones, cones dipped in chocolate and even more cones that my poor old brain can't remember! Then, once you've decided on your ice cream and cone you then have to come to a decision about what topping you want - oh dear, the choices in here really are endless! After much deliberation I went for a wonderful Chocolate and Ginger ice cream in a sugar cone with chocolate sauce, and doesn't that sound like one of the unhealthiest treats ever? Without going into too much detail, it was fabulous. Rich chocolate ice cream with pieces of crystallised ginger, giving a strange but wonderful heat to the ice cream.

Other weird and wonderful flavours included Ferrero Rocher, Coffee, Amaretto, Bubblegum (which my sister's younger grandson had and loved), Hazelnut and then the more standard flavours such as strawberry and vanilla. My sister had a double cone concoction of Strawberry Cheesecake and Blackcurrant, it looked divine and she ate every single drip of the vividly coloured ice cream - my only complaint in life is that my sister is a hearty pig and weighs eight stones soaking wet whereas my ice creams probably put a stone on my already crowded frame!

It's certainly a very popular place in Beddgelert. A standard ice cream costs around £1.80 and prices rise depending on what cone you choose and also if you opt for extra toppings. I personally thought the prices were reasonable considering the beautiful surroundings, Glaslyn Ices is incorporated into Glandwr Cafe which specialises in fresh home cooked food and you can follow this with one of the delicious ice creams from Glaslyn for a fully inclusive treat. Unfortunately we didn't get time to eat in the cafe but a gentleman I was talking to at the riverside said it's a very popular establishment and is renowned for it's good food and nice atmosphere.

Summary: An excellent ice cream parlour, just remember you don't need to queue!