Kodigahakelle · Nuwara Eliya
Mornings feel different
at Hillcroft
Mist on the tea rows, tea on the porch, and nowhere in particular to be.
- Above sea level
- 1,868 m
- Bedrooms
- Five
- From Colombo
- 4–5 hrs
01 The villa
Five bedrooms, one house, no strangers
Hillcroft is booked whole. The kitchen, the garden, the long table and the hills in front of it are yours for as long as you stay.
The house is a colonial-era bungalow of the kind the tea planters left behind: timber floors, tall shuttered windows, deep eaves. Five bedrooms, a lounge, and a garden that runs down towards the estate. Our cook makes breakfast and dinner from the garden and the market. There is no reception desk and no restaurant, and you will not be sharing it with anyone. It is a house, and for the length of your stay it is yours.
- Elevation
- 1,868 m
- Bedrooms
- Five
- Shared with
- No one
- Cook
- In the house
02 What’s here
Where nature meets comfort
Six reasons people come back — none of them are the wifi.
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The house to yourselves
All five bedrooms, the lounge, the dining room and the garden go to one booking. No other guests, no shared spaces, and no one at a desk in the hall.
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Heating and heavy blankets
Electric heaters in all five bedrooms, wool blankets on every bed, and hot water bottles on request from December through March.
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Hot water at any hour
Solar-backed, which matters more than it sounds at six in the morning when it is eight degrees outside the window.
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Breakfast and dinner, cooked here
Sri Lankan, from the garden and the Nuwara Eliya market. Hoppers on a cold morning are the thing guests write to us about afterwards.
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Windows facing the estate
Tall shuttered ones, framing the tea slopes and whatever the mist is doing that hour. Best from the lounge and the master bedroom.
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The garden, and parking
Seating outside for the two hours a day it is warm enough to use, and room for your car off the lane.
03 Photographs
The house and the country around it
Select any photograph to see it larger.
04 Guests
What guests said afterwards
We had an amazing stay at Hillcroft Villa for 2 nights and highly recommend this villa to anyone looking for a peaceful place to stay in Nuwara Eliya. The villa is beautiful with amazing views and a true Nuwara Eliya vibe.
I had a really satisfying stay at Hillcroft Villa, Nuwara Eliya. The service was excellent and everything was handled so well. The place itself is very peaceful and gave a calming, healing feeling to the mind.
Our stay at Hillcroft Villas was absolutely wonderful. The calm atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, and cool weather made our trip extra special. Everything was clean, comfortable, and well maintained.
Stayed here as a couple and it was exactly what we needed. The location is iconic right in the heart of Nuwara Eliya, surrounded by tea plantations, yet surprisingly close to town.
We had a wonderful stay at Hillcroft Villa. The view, atmosphere, and surrounding nature were absolutely beautiful, and everything was kept very clean and well-maintained.
The villa is beautiful, peaceful and conducive to relaxation. Very good rooms clean and neat! The food was absolutely delicious. The staffs have been very courteous and helpful. Highly recommended! We will definitely be back!
Our stay at the Hillcroft villa in Nuwara Eliya was truly unforgettable! The location is peaceful and surrounded by beautiful greenery, making it the perfect escape.
We had a wonderful stay at this beautiful villa in Nuwara Eliya last week. The location was peaceful and perfect for enjoying the cool Nuwara Eliya weather.
The service from the staff was great. Very considerate and very quick service from the person who looks after the bungalow. Great view and location as well.
05 Nuwara Eliya
Ten minutes from town, far enough from it
Nuwara Eliya sits high enough that the air changes. Mist comes up the valley after four, the light goes long and low across the tea, and the town below empties out by evening. Most of what people come for is inside half an hour; Horton Plains is the long one, at an hour and twenty, and worth starting early for.
- 10 min3.8 km
Victoria Park
A botanical garden that peaks between March and May, and good for birds year round.
- 16 min6.4 km
Gregory Lake
The colonial-era reservoir in the middle of town. Best walked early, before the boats start.
- 20 min7.4 km
Pedro Tea Centre and Factory
One of the oldest factories on the island, and still working. The tour is free.
- 20 min8.0 km
Labookellie Tea Lounge
Hillside tea garden with a rest house and a view worth the stop.
- 38 min15 km
Strawberry farms
Pick your own, a Nuwara Eliya habit that long predates the tourists.
- 1 hr 2129.2 km
Horton Plains
UNESCO-listed plateau. World’s End drops 870 metres. Go at dawn or the cloud beats you to it.
06 Questions
Before you book
Anything not covered here, ask us directly on +94 76 680 0980.
When is it coldest?
December through March, when nights drop to 8–12°C and the mist is at its most theatrical. June to August is cool too, around 14–17°C, and much quieter. April is the warmest month and still mild by Sri Lankan standards.
Is there heating?
All five bedrooms have electric heating and wool blankets, and hot water bottles are there for the asking between December and March. Nights fall to 8–12°C, so it matters. You will not be cold indoors, though we do recommend stepping outside at dawn anyway.
What should I pack?
Dress for a cool European spring: layers, a warm jacket, shoes you do not mind getting muddy, and something waterproof. Days average 16°C and nights reach 8°C. Blankets, throws and hot water are here, so there is no need to overpack.
Check-in and check-out?
Check in from 2pm, check out by 11am. Both can move if the house is free. Just ask in advance. We will hold luggage and pour you tea if you arrive early and want to go exploring.
How far is it from Colombo and Kandy?
About 180 km from Colombo, which is four to five hours on the A7, and about 75 km from Kandy, which is two to two and a half. The drive through Ramboda Pass and the Labookellie estate is part of the point. The train from Kandy to Nanu Oya, five kilometres from the house, is one of the great railway journeys and we would take it over the car.
Your peaceful escape in the hills
Tell us the dates and we will hold the whole house. Send how many of you there are, and we come back with whether it is free and what it costs, usually within the hour.