A beautiful estate with lush greenery and breathtaking views. Ideal for a family getaway with ample space for over 14 adults and cosy rooms with nice interior. Great hospitality with good & helpful staff as well as tasty local foods.
The most magical space we have found in the hill country of the tropical paradise of Sri Lanka! This newly refurbished colonial bungalow is warm, welcoming, cozy and is sure to take you back to the nostalgic past amidst the backdrop of lush gardens rich in biodiversity. The house is owned by David Swannell and his family and they have added in a lot of personal touches to make the space a truly unforgettable one for any nature lover looking for a homely respite in the mountains. The property is set for evening tea, lunch by the pool, with the most perfect ambiance, music and company to add to the magic of the mountain vistas. The manager of the property Max and the staff are very friendly, and so are the estate dogs who will give you a warm welcome at your arrival. A minimum two day stay is recommended as the property has a lot to see with two gorgeous cascading waterfalls and the nearby One Tree Hill viewpoint for breathtaking sunset views, and Sembuwaththa Lake for a relaxing stroll among the pine trees. Guided hikes can be also arranged with adventure guide and naturalist Aravinda Rathnayake who has vast experience in mountainscapes. Cannot recommend this space enough - visit for a truly memorable experience!…
my all too brief stay at the Ashburnham Estate was absolute perfection .. it was a dream come true ..the house itself is so beautiful and in a spectacular location -- and it is furnished with grace and quiet elegance ... but what made it really very special was the excellent service and delicious food and especially the kindness and attention to detail of the manager and staff ... marvellous breakfasts and delicious lunches and dinners all served on the terrace with the most wonderful views -- but what i particularly remember was afternoon tea with victoria sponge cake and reading a good book -- absolute bliss ..!! i was reluctant to leave this comfortable terrace -- but i was persuaded by the kindest of guides to go on an afternoon walk through the beautiful surrounding countryside -- well worth the effort as he was so well very well informed about the local flora and fauna .. the whole stay was redolent of more peaceful ,elegant and stylish times gone past -- a rare find and a dream come true ..!!!!!!!!…
My husband and I recently spent 2 nights here. Absolutely loved it! Amazing food. Considering the remote location 3 menu options was incredible. The staff we very friendly and couldn't do enough to help. The tea tour and tasting with Mr Das should not be missed. Wifi was always good. Not like a hotel, more like home from home. Would definitely come again!
If you’re looking for a place to relax and unwind after the chaos of Kandy then this hotel is the place. It’s as if you’ve stepped back in time to the 1930’s. This tastefully renovated Colonial Tea Plantation house commands a magnificent position looking out over the valley below. The view is nothing short of breathtaking. The hotel gardens are lovingly maintained by their small team of gardeners and the setting is peaceful and relaxing. The Tea Plantation tour and tea tasting with Mr Das is a must. Don’t come here expecting the trappings of a modern city centre hotel. The rooms are comfortable but reflect the 1930’s period style. There’s no air conditioning, mini bar, satellite TV and so forth. The sole concession to the 21st Century is the availability of WiFi for those desperate to stay connected to the modern world. The service is friendly and attentive. The food is excellent and, although the menu choice is limited, there’s always something to suit most palates. The lunch and dinner offerings change daily depending upon what ingredients are available at the market so what you get is always fresh and imaginative. Breakfasts are excellent also. I’ve given it a 4 rather than 5 due to a few issues below: 1. The random selection of plastic clothes hangers that were provided in the room were totally out of keeping with the character of the property. There’s no excuse for not providing a matching set of wooden hangars. 2. Very limited selection of alcoholic drinks available especially spirits. 3. All the prices are in U.S. dollars. Why? It makes no sense at all especially as the majority of the clientele are from the U.K. 4. Their website needs updating. I had expected to have a cooking class with the chef, Reggie only to find that Reggie had left a year previously. I did attend a ‘class’ with the new chefs but it was more like a demonstration that a cooking class and instead of the advertised 2.5 hours it only lasted an hour. Disappointing. 5. The safe in the room was not secured to anything which rendered it somewhat pointless. That said, it is still a lovely place to stay and would stay again if returning to Sri Lanka…
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