Looking for a day full of dairy?
The Oxford County Cheese Trail Awaits You
For many, The Oxford County Cheese Trail is a chance to get out with their family, visit farm attractions, museums, breweries and put a little culture in their day while enjoying delicious cheese (we can't blame them)! For others however, let's refer to them as the cheese purists, the trail is all about the dairy makers and more specifically, the cheese. Below, you'll find an itinerary focused purely on trying all of Oxford's deliciously local cheeses in the least amount of time.
Flip it!
This route can be explored in this order, or flip it to start from the North.
Stop 1: Dad's Ice Cream
Offer: Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream
Open Mid-May until September
Step back in time and up to the window at Dad's Ice Cream for the simple pleasure of ice cream made with 100% Canadian Cream. This old fashioned ice cream comes in over 30 flavours including their special Cheese Trail flavour, Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream.
Stop 2: New Galma Dairy
Offer: Tastings, Pre-booked Tours, Kids Play/Pet Area
Turn off on the gravel road and stop in at this family-run farm and cheesemaker to sample and shop Dutch-style goudas and more. Try flavours including Mild, Chili Pepper, Onion Garlic, Pesto, Italian, and Clove. Pre-book a tour to get a behind the scenes look at the cheesemaking process from barn to cheeseboard. Meet the animals and let the kids unwind in the play area.
Stop 3: Red Dragon Dairy
Offer: Tastings and Shop
Visit this cheesemaker to sample their selections and shop sheep milk cheeses, curds, cream cheese, and yogurt. Browse and take home Welsh baked goods, familiar British imports, lamb meat, local grocery, and fresh artisan sourdough made from scratch daily.
Stop 4: Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese
Offer: Tastings, Pre-Booked Tours, Cows in Pasture
Discover the alpine influence of cheese maker Shep’s Swiss training, tasting their award-winning cheeses like Five Brothers, Handeck, Oxford Harvest and Brigid’s Brie. Shop these and accompaniments. Enjoy fresh, squeaky curds each Friday, available at 11:00 am. Book a tour and tasting to get a behind-the-scenes look at the cheese making experience. Meet the cows and enjoy the treats and eats you've purchased along the trail in the pavilion.
Stop 5: Golspie Dairy
Offer: Whole Milk, Crowdie & British Style Cheeses
Take a mid-day drive out to Golspie Dairy, located on a 5th generation dairy farm. The dairy offers whole milk and British style cheeses
including Crowdie, a fresh cow’s cheese. Visit the retail shop or use the milk and cheese vending machines (bring your own bottle or empty bottles available).
Stop 6: Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life
Offer: Gourmet Goat’s Milk Ice Cream, Goat Milk Cheeses
Visit the farm store and shop 150+ gourmet, Ontario-made products. Sample their signature goat milk ice cream in six flavours (Coffee and Craft Brew, Lemon Cream, Peachy Mango Tango, Vanilla Bean Lavender, Spiced Pumpkin, or Wine and Dark Chocolate). Pre-book one of their award-winning experiences. Picnic with donkeys or alpacas, enjoy yoga and playtime with goats and visit mini highland cows.
Check out the new Tower of Goats Discovery Trail, featuring a 28ft tower with art installation.
Stop 7: Bright Cheese & Butter
Offer: Samples & Shop
Stop in at Oxford's oldest cheesemaker with over 150 years of experience and delicious cheddars. Bright Cheese and Butter was created
by local farmers in 1874 to turn surplus milk into cheddar and has been remained a staple in Oxford. Shop aged cheddars, Asiago, Colby, Monterey Jack, Feta, Havarti, curds and accompaniments. Bring a cooler along to bring your savoury souvenirs home.
Stop 8: Mountainoak Cheese
Offer: Tastings, Pre-Booked Tours & Shop
Visit this award-winning cheesemaker and farm, known for their cheese made with milk right from the farm. Shop over 20 varieties of gouda, buttermilk, quark, butter, and more. Get a behind the scenes look at the factory, aging room, and cheese-making process by pre-booking a tour.
