Where to Find the Best Ice Cream in Devon
Enjoying really good quality ice cream is one of life’s pleasures. Searching out a selection of the best ice cream in Devon is a challenge my family has, not surprisingly, agreed join me in. These days delicious artisan ice cream is not hard to find, but it helps to know where to look.
My personal ice cream research is mainly based in East Devon with other recommendations from friends and review sites in South Devon. Devon is well known for its lush green pastures and high quality of milk. Any chef will tell you to start with the best raw ingredients and that is what these entrepreneurs have done. It’s no surprise that clotted cream (best served as a cream tea) is another popular Devon export.
Read on for a round up of some of the best ice cream in Devon which include gelato!
The Best Ice Cream in East Devon
Otter Valley Dairy near Honiton
A wide range of innovative flavours made in the gelato style of ice cream at Otter Valley Dairy is a key feature of this family run business. Starting like many producers diversifying from their own dairy herd.
A little shed just off the A30 near Honiton was a popular stop off for many locals and travellers. Fast forward 10 years and now there is a stunning new Field Kitchen. A huge open plan oak beamed cafe offers a range of pizza with fabulous views of the countryside. There is plenty of space to sit outside as well.
There was a choice of sorbets at Otter Valley Dairy as well as a chocolate almond milk vegan option, perfect for my dairy free daughter.
Taste of Sidmouth
This has been recommended to me and I have yet to make a visit. Looking at reviews I don’t think we’ll be disappointed. Located in the heart of Sidmouth it’s a short walk to the beach to enjoy the sea views.
Ice cream is handmade on the premises. Their salted caramel and pink grapefruit sorbets both won a Gold at the Taste of the West awards in 2019. The shop also serves takeaway sandwiches, pasties, sausage rolls waffles and drinks.
Granny Gothards – Budleigh Salterton
Just along the road from Sidmouth is Budleigh Salterton. A gem of a town with a long promenade, pastel blue beach huts and lovely local walks. Budleigh Salterton is all the better for its traditional ice cream.
In the town you will find Granny Gothards, a popular Somerset brand now made in mid Devon, so it gets a place on the list. Seems like you’ll be spoilt for choice. Just the ticket after a good walk around the coast path or exploring the beach and river estuary.
Cortona Gelato Lab in Seaton
This fabulous artisan gelato maker has a shop in Seaton. Making a small batches means frequently changing innovative flavours as well as some really good alternative choices for vegans. Using milk from local farms this really is a great small business to support and a great reason to visit Seaton.
Orange Elephant – Taverners Farm
To the West of Exeter near Kennford Village, this popular seasonal ice cream parlour also has outdoor play areas, donkeys and pigs to visit. A drive through and barn seating area has been created.
The orange elephant is the nickname given to the very large, traditional breed of red coloured Devonshire milking cows. The cows produce rich creamy milk, perfect for ice cream. Many people who have driven past on the A38 will also remember seeing a large orange elephant slide on the side of the road. That was by coincidence adopted by Taverners Farm after the old Little Chef at Haldon Hill closed. It has since been replaced by a new version that guards an ice cream!
Ice cream at the farm is made in small batches and comes highly recommended. Locals can buy a Summer Meadow pass and enjoy more time at the farm.
Cow & Cacao at Darts Farm, Topsham
Artisan gelato in small batches made on the farm using local, pasture rich, Riverford Dairy organic milk & cream. Gelato is slowly churned with less air than traditional ice cream, producing a smoother texture and deeper flavour, but with less fat and sugar!
Darts Farm is a fabulous farm shop near Topsham, almost a day out in it’s own right.
Antonio’s – Exmouth
A popular cafe in Exmouth with delicious ice cream made locally (by Marco’s Gelato in Budleigh Salterton) as well as waffles, sundaes cakes and more. Looks like a great place to visit. Facebook link here.
The Best Ice Cream in South Devon
Delphini’s Gelato – Totnes
Fresh gelato made daily on the premises with organic milk and cream, as well as dairy free and vegan gelato options – it looks delicious and has a lot of rave reviews and they have pistachio one of my favourites!
Salcombe Dairy
Award winning ice cream, frozen yogurt and sorbets made in South Devon. With shops in Salcombe, Dartmouth and Kingsbridge this is popular with locals and visitors in the South Hams area. It’s also sold in retail outlets, cafes and restaurants.
I see they have started making their own Bean to Bar chocolate as well which sounds right up my street.
Creamo’s Ice Cream – Ashburton
Creamo’s creates small batch, handcrafted, ice cream, sorbets and sweet treats. Unique flavours inspired by seasonal curiosity. Only open on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays. creamos.co.uk/
Dartmouth Ice Cream
Another place for delicious looking ice cream, this has been recommended by a friend who is a Dartmouth local. Claire, founder of Devon with Kids is always out and about on the hunt for great places to recommend for days out and holidays.
Dartmouth Ice Cream is one of the oldest manufacturers of ice cream in Devon and is an independent, family run business. It’s main shop, The Good Intent on Lower Street in Dartmouth offers 22 varieties as well as an array of sweet treats. You can take away a cream tea, cakes, fudge, milkshakes and lots of delightful Devon produce.
All their ice creams and sorbets are homemade locally. Plus you can choose ‘Wow‘ cones which are dipped in chocolate, chocolate and honeycomb, or a pink, white and blue sugar dipped yoghurt. As if I needed any more encouragement! There is also an outlet in Kingsbridge.
The Local Scoop – Dawlish
“One thing we love about making our own ice cream is that we can be creative, inventive and take inspiration from anything and everything! Jack loves to experiment and we are always open to suggestions! ”
It looks like pretty much anything goes if you suggest it! See more here.
Surfing Cow Ice Cream
Near Mothecombe Beach, Plymouth, this homemade ice cream is sold from a shop on the farm that you can enjoy in the large garden overlooking the sea. Rich creamy milk come from a herd of cross bred Jersey cows, which you may well spot grazing.
In the summer you can also challenge yourself round the farm’s maize maze. Surfing Cow Ice Cream is also sold at various retail outlets in the area. Diary intolerant and vegans are not forgotten either with more than just a sorbet to choose from.
Nearby is the picturesque Mothecombe Beach. This privately owned spot is a short drive away, parking charges apply and then it’s a walk to the beach. Sounds like the perfect combination for a day out near Plymouth.
Dartmoor Ice Cream Company
Made in small batches and available from a range of local retail outlets and restaurants as well as home delivery if you live on Dartmoor.
Scoopy Doo’s Ice Cream Parlour – Torquay
This ice cream shop in Torquay has a been given the thumbs up by a friend. Offering a range of ice creams, sundaes and vegan options as well.
The Best Ice Cream in Devon
Researching for the best ice cream in Devon is a tough job and maybe I need more help! I can feel my waistline expanding and now I really need to try all of these!
If there are any inaccuracies or you have any thing to add or suggest please contact me here, or leave a comment below.
Photo credits: me, Amanda J, Heather Barnes , Nas Mato and GG Le Mere on Unsplash
Hi! I am Clare and I live in glorious East Devon with my family.
Join me in finding new places to explore in the West Country as well as further afield.
I hope you enjoy reading and taking inspiration from this website. 
You are definitely right about Devon producing the best ice cream! I’m in Plymouth and LOVE all our local ice cream places. This is a brilliant list, and one I shall be referring back to! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
Yum! #KCACOLS
Oh wow, what a list! I’m drooling over these ice cream by just looking at them. I need a scone right now 🙂 #KCACOLS
Sounds like the perfect excuse to visit Devon, delish! #KCACOLS
Ooh I defo need to refer to this next time I visit Devon! Ice cream is the best 🙂 #KCACOLS
What a great bucket list of ice cream places. #kcacols
We holiday in Devon quite a lot but have never heard of any of these places! They look fab! #KCACOLS