Discover Big Cheese Days with Friends

On Saturdays in May, The Oxford County Cheese Trail is rolling out all the stops with extra special meals, deals and experiences that you won't want to miss. It's a grate opportunity to grab your best buds and make a day of it! Want to know the best spots for a friends' getawhey? Say no more! 

Big Cheese Days with Friends

This itinerary maps out a route you can follow with friends this year, any Saturday in May that will ensure an absolutely brielliant time. Now read on or skip ahead! 

• Tour a Gouda Factory 
• Enjoy an Alpaca Picnic
• A Sweet Combination
• Brie Ice Cream for the Win
• Pints, Proscuitto, and Pizza

Stop 1: Tour a Gouda Factory

Suggested Time: 11 am
Where: Mountainoak Cheese, 3165 Huron Rd. New Hamburg, ON. (View Map)
Notes: Mountainoak is running tours from 10 am - 4 pm. They are $15 and include some delicious cheese samples.
Drive Time to Next Stop: 15 mins

Kick-off your day with a tour of Mountainoak Cheese, an award-winning Gouda factory nestled onto a quiet rural property. 

Using milk from their own dairy cows, Mountainoak makes almost 20 different varieties of gouda in flavours like Black Truffle, Wild Nettle and their award-winning Farmstead GOLD Gouda. 

Also made on-site? Fresh curds (YUM.) and quark, a soft cheese similar to yogurt that can be used in baking or eaten by the bowl. 

This tour will teach you a bit about the cheesemaking process and of course, include some samples along the way. Snap a pic in the aging room together as a group and Bob's your uncle! Want to see more? Stick around for a barn tour and grab a bite at the food truck (available on select Saturdays).

Have some wiggle room in the schedule? Bright Cheese and Butter is just a short 15 mins from Mountainoak Cheese and is offering samples of their cheese on Saturdays in May!

Stop 2: Meet a Furry Friend + Cool Down with Goat Milk Ice Cream BOGO

Suggested Time: 12:30 pm (MUST BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE)
Where: Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life, 906200 Township Rd. 12, Bright, ON. (View Map)
Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life offers a number of hands-on experiences including alpaca walks, mini Highland Cow experiences, goat recess and cuddles and their signature Taste of Farm Life experience. All must be booked in advance through their website.

When you're finished, pop into the farm store to shop a number of goat and alpaca-related goods like goat milk ice cream, alpaca wool socks and of course, Udderly Ridiculous's award-winning goat milk ice cream! For Big Cheese Days, enjoy buy one get one free single serving goat milk ice cream. With flavours ranging from coffee and craft brew to dark chocolate and red wine, you're definitely going to want to try this gourmet goodie. 

Drive Time to Next Stop: 12 mins

Stop 3: A Sweet Combination

Where: Thames River Melons Pick-Your-Own-Patch and Farm Market, 775530 Blanford Rd. Innerkip, ON. (View Map)
Suggested Time: 2 pm 
Notes: Thames River Melons is open and offering Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Bun + their NEW Beekeeping Experience
Drive Time to Next Stop: 15 mins

We hope you're aren't too full yet because just a short drive away, Thames River Melons is selling a made from scratch, Strawberry Cheesecake Pretzel Bun featuring Golspie Dairy Crowdie and Thames River Melons Strawberry Jam.

In addition, Thames River Melons will welcome you to pre-book for the Beekeeping Experience. Learn more here.

Stop 4: Chocolate and Ice Cream Tastings

Suggested Time: 2:45 pm
Where: Habitual Chocolate, 389 Dundas St. Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Note: Habitual Chocolate is open 10am-5pm
Drive Time to Next Stop: 8 mins

Alright, alright, we know you've had ice cream once already today but it's Big Cheese Days! Like any other holiday, anything goes! 

Habitual Chocolate is located in downtown Woodstock and makes Canada's largest selection of bean-to-bar chocolate as well as amazing small-batch ice cream. For Big Cheese Days, they're offering ice cream tastings and chocolate tastings (each tasting is $10/person).

Stop 5: Pints, Prosciutto, and Pizza

Where: Upper Thames Brewing Company, 225 Bysham Park Dr. #9, Woodstock, ON. (View Map)
Suggested Time: 3:15pm
Note: Upper Thames is open 11 am-7 pm.

Upper Thames Brewing Company is the perfect spot to enjoy your day with your friends and wind down together in a relaxed atmosphere. During Big Cheese Days, grab a 20oz Pint and their Proscuitto & Brigid's Brie Pizza for only $22.

Try one of Upper Thames Brewing Company's craft beers made in-house as you kick back each Saturday in May. We love their Timberbeast Brown Ale but the nice thing about Upper Thames is that they always have some new seasonal brews to try in addition to their signature flagships.

See You Soon

We can't wait to see you out for Big Cheese Days! Be sure to use the hashtag #TryTheTrail and enjoy! Have questions? Please feel free to email us anytime.