Summer time means more family days out – and what better place to spend a sunny Summer day than at one of the these fabulous ice-cream farms?
We’ve put together a list of some of our favourite places to visit with your family, whether you’re after a full day out or just a quick visit for a tempting treat, there’s plenty of choice below. We’ve taken the hard work out of planning, now all you’ve got to do is decide which flavour to try!
Small But Perfectly Formed:
Blaze Farm, Wildboarclough
One of the things I really enjoy about heading to Blaze Farm is the drive up, the route takes in some lovely scenery. The road is a bit of a twister though so please take care. It is in a stunning spot up on the tops, even on a sunny day it can be a bit breezy so pack an extra layer.
There is a small selection of animals to see, a wildlife pond, nature trails, play tractor and tunnel slide. Blaze farm make and sell their Hilly Billy ice-cream to eat in or to take home in an array of flavours, check out the specials board for seasonal/limited editions.
Covid-19 Update:
✅Limited opening hours
✅Staff in PPE
✅One way system in parlour
✅Masks mandatory in parlour
✅Seating outside
✅Track & trace operational for sit in
✅Maintain social distancing
✅Nature trails and all facilities OPEN
✅No picnic policy remains in place
Please check here for updates before visiting. Or to read more about our visits to Glebe Farm and some other favourite places click here!
Great Budworth Real Dairy Ice-Cream Farm
A working farm, Great Budworth Real Dairy Ice-cream Farm has a small tearoom serving hot and cold treats, a shop and lots to keep the little ones entertained.
In the field there are several varieties of rare breed chickens which are sometimes let out and are free to roam. The first paddock is home to the friendly goat who has been joined by 2 younger goats and there are also some sheep. You can purchase animal feed from the shop. There’s a table top farm and village to explore and plenty of seating outdoors in the garden.
One direction are also fans of the Ice-cream here! The farm prides itself on producing high quality traditional flavours.
From July there is also a maize maze to explore. This year its running a little differently with no dead ends, it will be a one way wiggly trail through the maize field and is absolutely FREE to enter, but donations are welcomed to their charity fundraiser.
Covid-19 Update:
✅ Open Fri – Sun 12-4pm
✅Takeaway menu available
✅Currently outdoor seating only
✅Single use packaging for food items
✅One way system
✅Social distancing measures
✅Toilets remain CLOSED
✅Animal paddocks are now OPEN
✅Hand sanitising stations
✅Maize Maze now OPEN
For updates please check here.
Daltons Dairy, Ashbourne
Hidden away, the seemingly small Daltons Dairy supply their unique blended real fruit ice-cream all across the county.
If you fancy a treat in a picturesque setting then this is the place for you. There is a small honesty shop on site selling all your basic essentials, perfect if you’re camping nearby.
Sit and gaze over the wild flower meadow and watch the cows grazing. There plenty of outdoor seating and some small ride on tractor toys to keep the little ones busy on the grassed area.
Serving ice-creams from the farm at weekends only but tubs are available from the honesty shop at all other times.
If you decide to visit be sure to tag them in your pics for a chance of winning the weekly photo competition!
Covid-19 Update:
✅Honesty shop OPEN 8am-9pm
✅Cash and card accepted
✅Ice-cream OPEN 12-6pm weekends
✅Dog friendly
✅Picnics welcome
✅Outdoor seating
✅Hand sanitising stations
✅Staff in PPE
Before visiting check here for updates.
Glebe Farm, Astbury
I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve visited here over the years and it’s still a favourite now. Glebe Farm is free to enter and has ample parking, toilets and baby changing facilities so that’s the practicalities ticked off straight away.
Ice-cream is served from an outdoor counter, scoops and a selection of ice lollies are available. Takeaway tubs are available from the farm shop.
There are animals to feed and pet (food is available to buy at the farm shop) including goats, alpacas, donkeys, and guinea pigs to name but a few. There is also an outdoor playground area that has recently been refurbished and has a sand pit too.
One of my boys favourite things to do is play on the excavator ride, digging, scooping and piling up the chippings.
Covid-19 Update:
✅Hand Sanitising stations
✅Toilets & baby change OPEN
✅Uncover outdoor seating available
✅Café serving takeaway only
✅Outdoor ice-cream counter OPEN
✅New playground OPEN
✅Currently no animal feeding
✅Masks mandatory in onsite shops
For further updates click here.
Insta Perfect Ice-Cream
Seven Sisters
The home of posh ice-cream Seven Sisters is all about creating delicious new flavours weekly!
Looking over the Cheshire countryside, Seven Sisters provides something a little different to your usual ice-cream parlour, after their ice-cream toddlers can have fun playing on the farm. Or enjoy the café with its relaxed interior which appeals to all ages from teenagers right through to the glam nans…think pink in here with a new flower wall installation for those perfect insta pics!
Out back in the yard there is a large seating area which includes the tipi. A sandpit and play barn are available for children to enjoy.
The new Collecting Yard room offers classes and groups throughout the week including yoga, a mum and tots class also a pop up brow bar. Be sure to catch up with their Facebook page for updates.
During Summer months Seven Sisters open their maize maze (entry fees apply) which is a great way to spend an hour, and work off those calories!
If you plan to visit and have sandpit loving little ones rember to take your own bucket and spade set as these have been removed temporarily.
Covid-19 Update
✅Serving a limited menu
✅Hand sanitising stations
✅One way system in place
✅Masks mandatory in the café
✅Queue markers
✅Contactless payment preferred
✅Staff in PPE
✅Outdoor distanced seating
✅Tables & benches sanitised
✅Toilets and baby change OPEN
✅Play equipment removed
✅Sandpit OPEN
✅Maize Maze now OPEN
For further updates check here
Tagg Lane dairy
Visit this ice-cream and coffee bar in the heart of the Peak District, just outside of the beautiful village of Monyash and a stone’s throw from the High Peak Trail. This makes it the perfect place for a pitstop after a day out in the peaks.
The award winning Jersey ice-cream is made using the milk and cream from the Jersey herd on site.
The coffee bar serves tempting combinations such as freshly made Belgian waffles, ice-cream sundaes and American style milkshakes.
Tagg Lane Dairy is renowned for its Raw milk products. Raw milk is exactly that – milk that is unprocessed, whole and living, with all its probiotic bacteria intact. Raw milk from grass grazed cows is the most natural way dairy products can be produced.
Our milk is easily digestible, 100% bioavailable, not destroyed or changed during intense processing. People who cannot drink processed, homogenised or pasteurised milk can often easily digest Tagg Lane Dairy’s Raw Jersey milk.
Tagg Lane Dairy are also making leaps forward in becoming more ecofriendly, using GM free farming methods and recycling water and resources. Jersey cows also leave a 20% smaller carbon footprint than other breed. Ice-cream with a feel good factor, what’s not to love?
Tagg Lane Dairy also has its own touring caravan site on the farm. Check availibility here!
Covid-19 Update:
✅Counter serving takeaway only
✅Outdoor distanced seating
✅Accepting card payments only
✅Hand sanitising station
✅Toilets remain CLOSED
For regular updates please check here
A Full Day Out
The Ice-cream Farm, Tattenhall
There’s so much to do at The Ice-cream Farm making it suitable for a full day of activities. Free to enter, some activities require a play pass which can be purchased online. There are also some ride ons that’s are coin operated.
We have visited for a few years now since the boys were around 15 months upwards.
Our favourites include the magical ice-cream tree which ‘snows’ on the hour and really is a spectacle to behold, the kids love it!
Outdoor play in ‘Daisy’s Garden’ is free and so is access to the farm paddock where you can see a small number of animals.
There is also ‘Silvercone’ a racetrack with coin operated go-carts. Will you make it to the winners podium?
But let’s get back to the important stuff, ice-cream…and, with over 50 flavours to choose from there’s one for everybody! Vegan ice-cream and fruit sorbets are also available.
Recently The Ice-cream Farm opened up a drive thru parlour too.
Covid-19 Update:
✅Online booking only
✅Limited capacity
✅Temperature checks on entry
✅Facemasks mandatory in the café
✅One way system in operation
✅Card payments only
✅Staff in PPE
✅Picnics welcome at designated site
✅Food outlets offering takeaway
✅Hand sanitising stations
✅Some attractions remain CLOSED
✅Toilets OPEN
The Ice-cream Farm is registered as part of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.
Before visiting please check for more updates here
Bluebell Dairy
Over in Derbyshire Bluebell Dairy offers all the charm of a petting farm with the fun of a playground. Throughout the year they offer themed events which are truly magical and sell out quickly.
Over in the animal patch meet, feed and learn about all of the animals including Barry and Bill the pot bellied pigs, Twinkle the donkey and Merlin the shetland pony.
In the play area, little ones can climb, swing and enjoy jumping on the bouncy pillow. There’s also a sandpit, and plenty of seating. Picnics are welcome in this area.
More than 25 flavours of ice-cream await you, including seasonal specials and in the Summer months Bluebell Dairy also open up their maize maze, and nature trail.
Covid-19 Update:
✅Online pre-booking only
✅Reduced capacity
✅One way system in operation
✅Facemasks mandatory in café
✅Hand sanitising stations
✅Outdoor seating available
✅Maize maze now OPEN
✅Social distancing markers
✅Card payments only
✅Toilets OPEN
Blubells is registered as part of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme.
Please check the Facebook page for updates before visiting.
Scoops and Sculptures
Snugburys, Nantwich
Even if you’ve never visited for ice-cream, I’d like to bet that you have probably driven past one of the iconic straw sculptures that Snugburys have been producing over the last 10 years.
In recognition of the decline of bees 2020 sees a giant 40ft bee buzzing about the place. Previously there has been Peter Rabbit, a Dalek and a meercat to name but a few.
Still a working farm, Snugburys has a ice cream shop with outdoor seating areas and large car parking facilities. It’s popular as a stop off destination as the sculpture acts as a beacon for visitors.
There are a few animals in the paddock, which you can visit. The photo opportunities are endless if you walk down to the sculpture field for that all important selfie! Recently Snugburys introduced a drive thru too.
Covid-19 Update:
✅Facemasks compulsory in the shop
✅Staff IN PPE
✅Shop operating 1 in 1 out system
✅Queue markers
✅Hand sanitising stations
✅Outdoor seating
✅Drive thru available
✅Toilets are OPEN
For updates click here
All covid measures were correct at time of publishing this post, but please check with each attraction before you visit as things are subject to change.
All images are my own unless otherwise credited and must not be reproduced without permission.
Header image credit: Snugburys
Dirt, Diggers and Dinosaurs 