The bungalow at Norwood commands a fine view of the eastern end of the Bogawantalawa valley and rests in the shelter of one of the finest bamboo stands to be found anywhere. The suites are oversized with imposing colonial style furniture, some with four-poster beds and very elegant bathrooms. A spacious lounge and well-stocked library lead out to a croquet lawn, a large swimming pool and sun deck. It is here where planters of the past invited friends to enjoy the pristine air and glorious outlook. You too can wander the gardens unchanged since yesteryear, soaking up the atmosphere of a time gone by.
Ambience:
Life in all its variety is played out in the living rooms. Pale tones and natural wood create equilibrium in the midst of a hectic life. Each bungalow has many sitting areas, old wooden desks to write postcards with real stamps and not just email. Silk cushions, regency stripped footstools, huge spaces warmed by roaring log fires. Mulled wine or the finest spirits, a drink that thrills the heart. Old books, old prints, antique maps, rooms filled with flowers in vibrant colours.
Wide verandahs. Time for relaxing on cushioned cane chairs, waited on hand and foot by the discreet butler. Long expanses of slate to spend long afternoons, with a gimlet, white wine and cucumber sandwiches or fresh roasted cashews. Watch the lake and study the garden bees, while reading Somerset Maugham
Living:
Spacious bedrooms, a private space, to unwind after a long trek. Rooms with a view, letting the sunlight in, smooth weathered teak floors, warm clay tiles. Relax in immense four-poster beds, crisp white sheets. Twenty elegant and charming rooms and suites decorated each in an unique style, ranging from neo-colonial to classic English.
Master Suites with a separate living room, Garden Suites with verandahs to private gardens and Luxury Rooms of great character. Ensuite Bathrooms of exquisite English elegance for a cool shower or a warm tropical flower bath. A personal oasis in the heart of the hill country. Wake up to the sound of bird calls and watch the mist rise over the lake, while shafts of sunlight streak through - it's a new day.
Suite & Rooms:
- Master Suite (Hazel)
- Garden Suites (Irvine & Andrews)
- Luxury Rooms (Trevaldwyn twin room & Jeffery)
Features:
- Swimming Pool
- Summer House
- Croquet
- Library
- Garden Dining
Cuisine:
Long teak tables and chairs in old gold. Moonlight through the window gently glows in the room, filled with the light of candles. Fine cuisine. Tea infused dishes. Sri Lankan classics. Seafood grills, fresh tropical fruit, rich chocolate cakes, the finest wines and vegetables from organic plots around the estate. A formal dinner or a simple alfresco lunch. Meals, wines and spirits included in your rate, no bills to sign. A butler at your beck and call.
Leisurely Interests:
Sweeping lawns and swimming pools. English gardens filled with roses, dew-filled agapanthus and spring crocus. Tea on the lawn, with Dundee cake, scones, strawberries and cream or lunch alfresco by the pool, a 180-degree view of the viridian lake and mountains behind, a summerhouse to meditate in or watch the forest wagtail flit from tree to tree. A range of pampering in-room spa treatments by expert therapists trained at our own Spa Academy. Tennis, swimming, croquet and indoor board games all come together for a leisurely lifestyle
Active:
First the "Tea Experience" with our Planter in Residence. Follow the trail of the planters of old Ceylon, as they trekked through the dense jungle looking for the best slopes on which to plant tea. Then on to watch the tea pluckers pick two leaves and a bud with deft hands. A tea factory visit is a must to see the care with which the leaves are dried and processed for the “single origin tea” that Dilmah is famed for. Follow the scratch marks of the Gallus Lafayetii the endemic jungle fowl on a bird watching expedition. Kayaking, rafting on the white water or boating on the lake. A dawn expedition to climb the famed "Adam's Peak" mountain nearby. Golfing, biking and trekking are some of the exhilarating sports on offer. Trek through some of the most beautiful and scenic country in the island. Tea Trails provides many activities for the adventurous.
The Road Less Travelled - Biking, hiking and walking holidays in the Golden Valley of Tea
Occasions:
Weddings - Tea Trails is ideally suited for a small wedding party of up to 25 guests. The nearby Warleigh Church is ideal for the marriage ceremony. Built in 1878 by early British planters out of granite and imported teak, it has beautiful stained glass windows. Situated on top of a tea covered hill overlooking the Castlereagh lake, it is the most stunning location for a wedding in Sri Lanka . A little cemetery surrounds this church where British planters and their loved ones are buried, a reverent reminder to their pioneering spirit
Honeymoon & Anniversaries - The privacy and solitude at Tea Trails is perfectly suited for a blissful honeymoon. Long walks through beautiful tea country, evenings sipping wine in front of a log fire and being pampered by the staff, in room Spa treatments and private dining underneath the stars will make for a memorable honeymoon.
Meetings - Brainstormings and board meetings in total seclusion on a working tea estate, far from the distractions of the city or beach resort. The atmosphere and climate is perfectly suited for crystal clear thinking. Outdoor bonding/team activities can be arranged. Depending on the size of the group one or more of the bungalows can be booked in its entirety. The nearby 100-year old Darrawela Planter's Club also offers facilities for small conferences as well as the usual club facilities such as tennis, snooker, pool, a well stocked bar, badminton as well as Cricket and Rugby grounds. For small resident groups Tea Trails is the premier location for out-of-the-box thinking.
