As more and more Ontario businesses invest in updates to improve accessibility, fun new trip options are popping up for folks travelling with walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers. If concerns about building access have been keeping you from exploring some of the more rural parts of our province, it’s officially time to look beyond the big city.
Norfolk County, affectionately known as Ontario’s Garden, and Oxford County, which holds the title of Canada’s Dairy Capital, offer incredible tasting and touring options for travellers seeking farm-to-table flavours and small-batch cider, wine, and craft beer. Add in a few of the area’s other accessible activity and accommodation options, and you’ve got a winning equation for a getaway that’s equally enchanting for everyone in your crew, no matter how they roll! Let the following itinerary serve as a starting point for planning your upcoming trip.
Day 1
Start your day at Gunn’s Hill Artisan Cheese, located just south of Woodstock. This award-winning fromagerie creates handcrafted cheeses using milk from the family dairy farm. Be sure to sample their Oxford Harvest and Five Brothers cheeses, two local favourites. Here you will find accessibility features including parking, accessible washrooms, barrier-free entrance, accessible tours, lowered counters, and it is service animal friendly.
While your travel team is soaking up the friendly vibe at Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese, spend some time perusing the dozens of delicious stops that make up the Oxford County Cheese Trail. This self-guided tour features 30 delicious stops showcasing the County’s cheese and dairy producers and related experiences. Accessibility ratings for all 30 sites are available on the Access Now website. As not all sites along the Trail offer the same degree of accessibility, Access Now is a great tool to help plan your specific stops. Some of the more accessible stops to consider along the trail are listed below.
Next, head into downtown Woodstock to visit Habitual Chocolate. Enjoy a specialty hot chocolate or locally roasted coffee and stock up on bean-to-bar chocolate made in-house from ethically sourced cacao. You’ll also find chocolate-dipped fruit, seasonal treats, and decadent truffles infused with local ingredients. They offer accessible seating, barrier-free entrance and its service animal friendly.
If you’d like to soak in some culture before lunch, visit the Woodstock Art Gallery, located just a block away. The accessible gallery features rotating exhibits, a permanent collection highlighting regional and Canadian artists, accessible parking, an automatic door, and an elevator.
For lunch, choose between two great local options:
- Brickhouse Brewpub in Woodstock, offering elevated pub fare with plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian choices, accessible parking, washrooms, a barrier-free entrance, flexible seating, and easy-to-maneuver pathways and patio spaces, makes the space feel welcoming to all.
- or head to Upper Thames Brewing Company, where you can enjoy craft beer with a menu of light bites and gourmet pizza in a relaxed thoughtfully designed space including parking, washrooms, power-operated double door ensures barrier-free access to the building, flexible seating arrangements, the spacious layout allows for easy maneuverability, and its service animal-friendly.
Continue your journey to Golspie Dairy, about a 15-minute drive from downtown Woodstock. This family-run dairy farm has been around since 1874, but only started making cheese in 2022. Those with mobility restrictions or aids will appreciate the accessible parking and washroom, barrier-free entrance, accessible seating, and lowered counters. Everyone will get a kick out of the fun cheese and milk vending machines and enjoy connecting with the friendly staff.
Next stop: the Ingersoll Cheese & Agricultural Museum, about a 20-minute drive from Golspie. Learn the fascinating history behind Oxford County’s thriving dairy industry and proud agricultural heritage, which includes the story of the “Big Cheese”. The museum offers accessible washrooms, barrier-free entrances, and spacious layouts for easy navigation.
A cheese trail adventure wouldn’t be complete without some squeaky cheese curds to snack on as you explore, and Red Dragon Dairy is the perfect stop to grab some. “Dragon Eggs,” which are cheese balls that come in a variety of delicious flavours, are another popular choice at this accessible stop that offers an accessible washroom with a barrier-free entrance and sink, lowered counters, and other universal design considerations.
Want to keep the good times rolling? Drive just 10 minutes further south for a Canadian take on delicious Dutch cheese at New Galma Dairy, open Friday and Saturday. This friendly and accessible family-run dairy makes traditional Dutch cheese using milk from the family’s cows. Guests with mobility aids will appreciate the dairy’s lowered counters and spacious public areas.
Another 10-minute drive takes you to Makkink’s Flower Farm, where you can purchase fresh-cut flowers in their accessible store and enjoy freshly made soups, sandwiches, baked treats, and curated wine and cheese at the Bakery Café, which is also accessible.
If you’re travelling Thursday through Saturday, stop at GoodPud on your way to Makkink’s. You’ll drive right past this charming dessert shop offering rich puddings made with delicious local cream in a variety of nostalgic flavours.
End your day with dinner and an overnight stay at the Elm Hurst Inn & Spa in Ingersoll. Select rooms feature roll-in showers and knee-clearance sinks. The onsite spa offers a roll-in infrared sauna and a fully accessible nail bar.
Day 2
Build your second day’s touring itinerary around Norfolk County’s hopping craft beverage scene to discover the interesting things that local producers are doing with cider, beer, and wine.
Choose from some of the area’s excellent and accessible choices listed below.
For some sensational sober sipping, head to The Cider Keg near Vittoria. Enter through the easy-access doors to find an extensive selection of ciders made with 100% Canadian fruit and no added sugar or water.
Front Road Cellars at Blueberry Hill Estates in Saint Williams produces both ciders and wines made from local fruit. Cocktail enthusiasts will want to pick up a bottle of the winery’s red or white vermouth or sip one of the creative cocktails shaken up onsite. The property has accessible parking, as well as accessible washrooms on the main floor.
Charlotteville Brewing Company is an excellent stop for those interested in learning what Norfolk County’s passionate producers are doing to protect the planet. In addition to tasting sustainably produced pale ales, porters, pilsners, IPAs, sours, stouts, and more, visitors can enjoy a meal and join in the fun of regularly hosted special events, including book discussions, music nights, and craft workshops. The building’s doors accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers.
Frisky Beaver, in Port Dover, produces a delicious selection of wines to try, as well as a new alcohol-free option, Virgin Beaver Sparkling Cider. This semi-dry sipper is crisp, refreshing and full of fresh peach flavours. Entering the winery is as easy as a wave thanks to its convenient hands-free doors.
If visiting the area between May and early October, consider wrapping up your afternoon in Port Dover with dinner and a show at The Lighthouse Theatre. The century-old theatre has been updated with accessible washrooms and seating, and an elevator, and friendly staff and volunteers are available to support patrons using assistive devices. The theatre’s 2025 season promises big laughs with performances like The New Canadian Curling Club, Norm Foster’s Here On The Flight Path, and more. Those who prefer an earlier night can opt for a matinee performance followed by dinner. Whether you choose to dine before or after your show, The Beach House offers good accessibility, a fantastic Lake Erie view and delicious food.
From Port Dover, make the 15-minute drive to Simcoe and call it a day at an accessible hotel choice, like Travelodge by Wyndham Simcoe, where staff have been trained to support guests with disabilities, or Best Western Little River Inn, which offers an elevator and wheelchair accessibility.
Want more accessible itineraries in Ontario’s Southwest? Check out the following blog posts.
