Oxford County Cheese Trail

Planning the Trail

Tourism Oxford publishes the trail as a free map and brochure with the stops grouped in five hubs, plus ready-made itineraries for each hub. The trail runs all year. Oxford County is Canada's dairy capital, and the trail mixes cheesemakers with dairy farms, bakeries, breweries and ice cream stands. Come Monday to Saturday: Gunn's Hill, Bright and Mountainoak are all closed on Sundays.

Ingersoll

Start at the Ingersoll Cheese Museum, 290 Harris Street, about 1 km north of Highway 401 exit 218. It has a re-created 19th-century cheese factory, the cheese playground and tourist information, with admission by donation. The Elm Hurst Inn at 415 Harris Street, on the site of James Harris's early cheese factory, sells a Cheese Trail package. In town, The Wine Cellar and Cheese Shop is at 188 Thames Street South.

Gunn's Hill

Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, 445172 Gunn's Hill Road near Woodstock, makes more than 21 cheeses from cow's and local sheep's milk. The shop opens Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 17:00. Guided plant tours take about an hour, cost $10 per person plus tax and end with a tasting of three signature cheeses. Book a slot online; tours run when the plant is not in production, usually in the afternoon, for up to 25 people. The building is fully wheelchair accessible. The cheesemaker advises using Google Maps rather than a GPS unit to find it.

Nearby are Jakeman's Maple Farm, the Norwich and District Museum with its Quaker and dairy history, and Greener Pastures Eco Farm.

Blandford-Blenheim

Bright Cheese and Butter, founded by local farmers in 1874, has its factory shop at 816503 County Road 22 in Bright. It sells fresh curds, aged cheddar, asiago and more than 100 cheeses in all. Hours are Monday to Wednesday 9:00 to 17:00, Thursday and Friday 9:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 9:00 to 16:00.

Mountainoak Cheese, 3165 Huron Road near New Hamburg, makes Gouda from its own herd. The farm store opens Monday to Saturday, 9:00 to 17:00. Tours of the make room and ageing room run on the last Saturday of most months at 9:15 and 11:15. They last 45 minutes to an hour and cost $15 per person or $45 for a family. Reserve by email and pay the week before; there are no tours in December. Every Saturday in May the farm holds Big Cheese Days, which return in May 2027.

Woodstock

Cheesy Cow Company at 521 Dundas Street sells artisan cheese and meats, and Your Farm Market on Young Street is open all year. Golspie Dairy is a fifth-generation dairy farm. The Springbank Snow Countess monument honours a champion dairy cow. Upper Thames Brewing and Brickhouse Brewpub are good for a break.

Tillsonburg

New Galma Dairy and Creamery is at 284059 Daniel Road and Red Dragon Dairy at 383747 Salford Road. Dad's Ice Cream has more than 30 flavours. Hours at the smaller farms vary, so check before driving out.

A One-Day Route

Begin in Ingersoll at the museum when it opens at 10:00, drive to Gunn's Hill for an afternoon tour, and finish at Bright for curds before the shop closes. On the last Saturday of the month, swap in a morning tour at Mountainoak. The Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival is north of the trail, on the last Saturday of September.