Nestled in Southwestern Ontario just east of London, Oxford County is a playground of scenic paved and gravel rural roads. Known as the Dairy Capital of Canada and home to the Oxford County Cheese Trail, every ride here comes with delicious rewards. No matter which direction your two wheels turn, you’ll encounter farm stands, cheese makers, and restaurant and cafe menus celebrating local ingredients. With beautiful wide-open countryside and so many rural attractions, it’s the perfect place for a spring ride weekend.
“I remember the sensory experience in the spring; it was incredible,” recalls Leigh, a Toronto cyclist who visited the county on an Ontario By Bike Ride. “The crisp, fresh air and the freedom of cycling through open countryside really stayed with me. Our group received such a warm welcome at the Cheese Museum in Ingersoll and it was a fascinating window into the unique culture of the area.”
With 15 official paved road routes ranging from 17 to 156km, 11 curated gravel routes from 16 to 92km, and the tranquil 19km Oxford County Trans Canada Trail, there’s more than enough riding here to fill a long weekend, or an entire week, this cycling season.
It can be hard to know where to begin with so many route options. Read on for a curated three-day cycling weekend with Ride with GPS route maps (free navigation offered courtesy of Oxford County Tourism Account) that highlights some of the very best riding Oxford County has to offer.
Ingersoll – Your Oxford County Cycling Basecamp
Looking for the perfect place to start? Make Ingersoll your base for a three-day weekend, staying two nights in town, or longer, riding a different route each day. This mid-sized community punches well above its weight for cyclists: its downtown is an Ontario By Bike certified Bicycle Friendly Business Area, with an impressive 10 bicycle friendly businesses.
Long known as a farming and dairy centre, Ingersoll blends small-town charm with cafes and restaurants, an upscale cheese and wine shop, and the delightful Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum, an essential stop for any visiting cyclist.
Where to Stay
Two of Ingersoll’s bicycle friendly businesses offer standout accommodation options for your weekend base.
For a truly indulgent stay, book the Elm Hurst Inn & Spa, housed in a grand 1872 Victorian mansion. Enjoy beautifully appointed rooms, an on-site spa with massage rooms and a sauna, and a fine-dining restaurant (and summer patio) that’s part of the Oxford County Cheese Trail. The menu features Gunn’s Hill cheeses, and the inn offers a Cheese Trail Package that pairs perfectly with a cycling getaway.
The newly renovated Comfort Inn & Suites is a fantastic alternative, offering modern rooms, an inviting lobby and breakfast lounge, and a hearty hot breakfast buffet to fuel up for the day’s ride.
With a comfortable place to rest each night, it’s time to plan your three-day Oxford County cycling weekend.
Day 1 – Oxford County South: Cheese Trail by Bike
Route Map Links:
97km – Full Oxford County South – Cheese Trail By Bike
63km – Shorter Oxford County South – Cheese Trail By Bike
Distance: 97 km or 63 km
Kick off your weekend by exploring the Oxford County Cheese Trail. Some cheese shops are closed on Sundays, so plan this ride for a Friday, Saturday, or weekday if possible. This beautiful paved route winds through the rolling countryside of southern Oxford County, with smooth roads that invite you to settle into a rhythm and open up in the saddle.
There are two versions of the route: the full 97km option, which includes visits to Tillsonburg and Otterville, and a shorter 63km version that shortcuts the southernmost communities but still visits Red Dragon and Gunn’s Hill cheese makers.
Route Highlights:
Red Dragon Dairy – Just south of Ingersoll, this family-owned artisanal cheese factory is the only sheep’s milk focused maker on the Cheese Trail. Browse British Isles specialty foods and cool off with soft-serve ice cream (tip: try the 99, a soft serve cone with a flake bar in it).
Makkink’s Flower Farm – Located just east of Tillsonburg, this charming rural flower farm and bicycle friendly business is perfect for a sandwich, specialty coffee or glass of wine in a relaxed countryside setting. Closed Sundays.
Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese – South of Woodstock, this well-known producer crafts Swiss-inspired cheeses, has an outdoor covered patio and also offers tours monthly and for groups. Closed Sundays.
After your ride, return to Ingersoll and enjoy a well-earned dinner at the Elm Hurst Inn & Spa restaurant. If you are craving more nightlife, visit Scotch and Ponder, a scotch and cocktail bar in Downtown Ingersoll.
Day 2 – Oxford County North (Short Route)
Route Link: Oxford County North – Short
Distance: 47km
After a big first day, enjoy a shorter ride on some of the quietest and best paved roads north of Ingersoll. This route is ideal for road riding enthusiasts who appreciate smooth surfaces, low traffic, and classic agricultural scenery.
Starting from the town of Ingersoll, follow beautiful 31st Line to County Road 78 for a delightful ride past scenic farms and agricultural lands. Pedal along beautiful tree-lined 11th Line into bustling Woodstock for a look around and lunch stop. Cruise back along Beachville Road and the last 13km into Ingersoll to end the ride.
Route Highlights:
Kintore Coffee Co. – A destination coffee roaster and cafe in the farming community of Embro, north of Ingersoll. Their beans are served in cafes across Ontario. As a rural cafe, check hours before your ride (tip: they are known for their cold brew).
Golspie Dairy – East of Embro, consider a 2km detour down 45th line to visit Golspie Dairy, a 5th generation family farm offering whole milk and British style cheeses, with a retail shop or milk and cheese vending machines!
Brickhouse Brewpub – A popular Woodstock stop and sister restaurant of Upper Thames Brewing Co. Part of the Cheese Trail, it’s a great place for a mid-ride meal or cheeky pint. Try the braised beef poutine with Gunn’s Hill cheese curds – or opt for one of their lighter menu options.
Beachville District Museum: If wanting to embrace rural a bit longer, wander the grounds and the exhibits. Explore baseball history, as the first recorded baseball game in North America was played in Beachville.
Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum – Back in town, visit this engaging museum featuring historic farm buildings, cheese-making demonstrations, and an exhibit on local legend Douglas Carr, who cycled across Europe and Africa in the 1930s. The museum also serves as Ingersoll’s cyclist welcome centre, with bike racks, route maps, and local information.
The Wine Cellar & Cheese Shop – An artisanal downtown shop offering craft brewing of wine for home alongside a curated selection of local and imported cheeses and gourmet accompaniments
After some rest, return to downtown Ingersoll and explore more with the Feet Forks & Finds Itinerary which highlights small town shops, a craft brewery and restaurants. Or explore Woodstock’s Retro Rewind Itinerary where you can explore local history & culture, flip through vinyl or wander three floors of antiques. If it’s R&R you need visit one of the two local Nordic spas (Terra Nova or Wave Nordic) both of which have restaurants on site.
Day 3 – Drumbo Innerkip Plattsville
Route Link: Drumbo Innerkip Plattsville
Distance: 68km or 39km
After two days on the road, finish your weekend with a beautiful pedal visiting more Cheese Trail stops and welcoming rural businesses on paved country roads northeast of Woodstock. Enjoy a quiet downhill cruise on Blenheim Rd and Township Road 8 into Wolverton and Drumbo. If going the full distance Gobles Road through forests, wetlands and farmland. Stop in Innerkip for a refreshment, take a short detour south to Thames River Melons, or enjoy stops at Bright Cheese or Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life.
The route can be shortened to 39 km by staying on Oxford Road 28 from Drumbo and turning before Innerkip on County Road 22 to Bright.
Route Highlights:
Thames River Melons – a short detour south on Blandford Road south of Innerkip, is a you-pick farm (from asparagus to apples), farm market, bakery with a seasonal food truck serving up farm based dishes. Stop at their inviting farm shop to pick up homemade pies and baked goods from the farm kitchen, preserves made with their own crops, honey from their hives, and other on-farm goods or grab a frozen yogurt or milkshake made with farm berries.
Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life – just north of Bright, stop in for a farm experience, interacting with Highland cows, goats and alpacas. Recommended to book ahead.
Bright Cheese & Butter – Originally founded by a group of farmers in the late 1800s wanting to turn their surplus milk into cheese, the company is still producing award-winning cheese at their original factory in Bright including aged cheddars, Asiago, Colby and other varieties. Closed Sundays.
For your final meal, dine at the Trail’s Edge Tavern in Plattsville or Innerkip Highlands Golf Club.
Get Rolling
Whether you’re drawn by quiet country roads, cafes and restaurants, or the irresistible pull of the Cheese Trail, Oxford County delivers a cycling experience that’s both relaxed and richly satisfying. Using Ingersoll as your base puts you at the heart of it all – close to great riding, welcoming communities, and memorable local food and culture.
Plan a weekend or linger a little longer. Either way, Oxford County invites you to slow down, explore back roads, and savour the simple pleasure of discovering a wonderful destination by bike.
For more information on planning your Oxford County cycling getaway, visit:
- Oxford Cheese Trail By Bike – Ride with GPS Collection – Free navigation of all routes is included, courtesy of Oxford County Tourism Account
- Oxford County Cheese Trail
- Oxford County – Cycling
- Oxford County – Experiences
- Southwest Ontario, Oxford County – Great Places to Cycle – Ontario By Bike
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Sponsored Content Partner: Tourism Oxford County
Article by Ontario By Bike. Photo Credits: Dudek Photography (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) and Leigh Lichtenburg (3)
The post Ingersoll – Your Bike Friendly Basecamp in Oxford County appeared first on Ontario By Bike.
