There are two kinds of people in this world. Those who believe ice cream is strictly for sweltering, sunny days. And those who have zero qualms about tucking into a tasty cone whenever the notion takes them – smirry rain and leaden skies be damned. It is likely no great surprise that I fall firmly into the latter camp. Indeed, for at least half the year, I meticulously plan my jaunts around locales with eateries purveying sundaes, gelato and other frozen sweet treats. And if I can enjoy a soul-salving stroll into the bargain, even better. Here’s my pick of five superb Scottish coastal walks perfect for ice cream lovers.
Brora, Sutherland
Mention Brora and for some the world-class links golf course will spring to mind. For others it has become synonymous with the Hawick-made, luxury cashmere brand that borrows its name. And for me? Beaches and ice cream, of course.
As you head up (or down) the A9 through Sutherland, this pretty village is a fantastic place to stop-off, with gorgeous, golden-hued shoreline from which you can sometimes catch a glimpse of dolphins and seals among the waves of the Moray Firth.
It is also home to the Capaldis of Brora Big Pink Shop, whose dreamy ice cream is heaven on a scoop. To stretch the legs, a six-mile (10km) section of coastal path runs towards Golspie, with views of Ben Bhraggie and the fairy tale-esque Dunrobin Castle.
Pittenweem, Fife
A popular spot on the Fife Coastal Path, Pittenweem packs in the charm. The historic East Neuk fishing village, dating from medieval times, still has a working harbour, which is wonderful for watching boats to and fro.
There is a 3.5-mile (6km) meander from St Monans to Anstruther, with Pittenweem providing an ideal pit stop at roughly the halfway point.
Nicholson’s in Pittenweem stocks a dozen flavours of the famed St Andrews-made Jannettas ice cream, alongside shelves filled with colourful jars of old-school sweeties, including soor plooms, pear drops, sherbet lemons and kola cubes.
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Oban, Argyll
You can’t beat a mosey around Oban harbour, where there is always something interesting to see. Hailed as the Seafood Capital of Scotland, this bustling hub has myriad other gems to delight foodies, particularly those with a sweet tooth.
The Pokey Hat catches the eye with its hot pink and sunshine yellow exterior. There is often a queue out the door for its small-batch ice cream, available in a rainbow of flavours such as strawberry, coconut, salted caramel, pistachio and bubble gum.
For an amble, the rugged coastal trail from Ganavan Bay to Dunstaffnage Castle begins a couple of miles north of Oban. A four-mile (6.5km) route takes in clifftop, hillside and woodland paths, offering spellbinding panoramas over the Firth of Lorne.
North Berwick, East Lothian
The giant fibreglass display cones outside shops can be a perilous business. Especially if you have an ice cream-loving dog like mine. My collie – the bold Moose – tends to plonk himself down and refuse to budge until he gets his chops around the real thing.
And if he’s getting an ice cream, then I’m getting an ice cream too. Which is how I first discovered Sugar Mountain in North Berwick, a fabulous emporium that lives up to its name, selling classic ice cream and nostalgia-inducing confectionery.
Then off we toddle to the town’s harbour and neighbouring beaches to gaze out at the volcanic hulks of Craigleith and the Bass Rock. From West Bay to the opposite end of Milsey Bay, it's a 1.6-mile (2.6km) daunder each way.
Great Cumbrae, Ayrshire
It may be nicknamed the “Island of a Thousand Bicycles”, but Great Cumbrae is glorious to explore on foot too. From the old pier in Millport, there’s a clutch of circular routes that showcase its rich heritage and spectacular scenery.
The 3.3-mile (5.4km) Farland Point Walk takes in the promenade, painted mimetolith Crocodile Rock and grand Victorian villas of Kames Bay. The 3.4-mile (5.5km) Targets Walk heads to Sheriff’s Port, looping around with vistas of Bute, Arran and Little Cumbrae.
The Sweet Shop Millport sells yummy, soft-serve ice cream, topped with raspberry sauce and a chocolate Flake.
Susan Swarbrick is a columnist and Herald writer who loves history, nature and the outdoors. She writes a weekly dispatch on her favourite walks and places to visit around Scotland
