We adored the tranquillity of this villa and its wonderfully rural village location. It is a little isolated, but this might be just what many people are after. We feel that nature lovers will especially like this villa since the garden is brimming with wildlife and Koggala Lake is just a short walk away; bird sightings are best in the early morning and before dusk – just don’t forget to bring your binoculars with you!

Families, too, will find this to be a great property, as the children will love the large garden, the pool with its generous shallow end and the attractions of the lake. Discounts are available for bookings exceeding a month and this might be attractive to long-stayers.

We thought that the bedrooms in the main house were comfortable though quite narrow; their numerous shuttered windows and doors onto the veranda and garden are very characteristic of the villa’s colonial heritage. Bathrooms offer a hint of modernity in a house where the old and the new have been merged, more successfully in some places than others; while the large 15-foot veranda is practical and more than compensates for the limited living space inside the house, we felt that it does flaw the property’s facade a little.

Although their English is limited, the staff looked after us well during our stay, and meals were agreed with the cook according to a menu priced at cost: expect home cooking rather than flamboyant cuisine. While the villa does have a mini stereo and a satellite TV with DVD player, the selection of DVDs and CDs is very limited so we’d recommend you bring your own with you, along with books and games for the kids.

The villa is now being looked after by an efficient management company who are on call should there be anything that the villa staff are unable to help you with.