What You Get
Swimming Pool (Private)
TV (Satellite/Cable)
The Experience
At first glance, Hideaway looks like many of the island’s beautiful old properties. With an elegant exterior fringed by carved fretwork, triangular tiled roofs, shuttered windows and stuccoed white columns it echoes the island’s colonial past. Step over the threshold however, and you’ll notice that whilst Hideaway’s owner’s extensive renovations have retained key architectural features and preserved its classical style, their choice of furnishings, decor and facilities have also given the property a contemporary vibe. Designed as a retreat from hectic city life, Hideaway emphasizes life’s simple pleasures; releasing you from everyday stresses and strains and providing the luxurious means to relax and unwind.
This three-bedroomed, 120-year-old, village walauwe (manor house) is a serene home from home. Guests are showered with everyday comforts such as beautifully dressed beds, hearty cuisine and a cabinet packed full of movies, whilst also being treated to subtle luxuries; dreamy bathrooms with open-air jacuzzi bathtubs, a large blue-tiled swimming pool, an intimate bar and the services of an all-pampering seven-strong staff team. Hideaway’s layout makes it as great for groups and families as it does for couples and honeymooners who will adore the exclusivity and privacy of the house’s blessed rural location. Enchanting candlelit dinners under the stars, moonlit midnight swims, mouth-watering meals (restaurant-style pricing) and timeless walks into the stunning rural countryside are sure to restore and relieve even the most stressed-out, run-down and uninspired of us.
Although the house completely lives up to its name, hidden away as it is deep within the golden triangle of palm and pineapple plantations inland from Negombo, it is not so remote that there isn’t anything to do close by. Take off on a bullock cart for a unique perspective of this rural area, or cycle through villages and plantations to visit ancient temples. Trawl the local markets at Kirindiwella, go shopping in Colombo, visit the beach (both barely an hour’s drive away) or, quite simply, do nothing but read, relax and recuperate in this restful place that feels so much further away from it all.
Our review
- Overall Rating:
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7.9
- Reviewed:
- 19-May-2010
We adored Hideaway, which does exactly what it says on the tin.
Individual Scores:
| Character/Charm: | 9 | Location: | 7 | Outside Area: | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Area: | 8 | Bedrooms: | 8 | Bathrooms: | 8 |
| Kitchen: | 7 | Facilities: | 8 | Staff: | 8 |
| Value: | 8 |
Highlights
We thought everything about Hideaway was a delight. We loved the added luxury of our private open-to-the-sky jacuzzi. The staff pampered us completely and discreetly and made mealtimes memorable through great food and thoughtful atmosphere.
Surprises
Not having air conditioning in the bedrooms could be a bit of a downside, but the carefully placed fans were pretty effective; we even reached for the blanket in the early hours. The four-acre, semi-wild garden is not walled and spills onto the pineapple plantations; though their prickles are enough to deter anyone thinking of intruding on the property. Since the suites both have semi-outdoor bathrooms, you might find yourself face to face with a few spiders or ants, though most of the visiting wildlife is perfectly harmless; just watch out for the red centipede as its bite can be painful.
PROs
- Private open-to-the-sky jacuzzis
- Blissfully relaxed rural setting
- Every meal a gourmet occasion
- Discreetly pampering staff team
- Plentiful pineapple from local estates
CONs
- No air conditioning
- Guests discouraged from kitchen use
- It’s isolation, but Colombo’s only an hour away
- Mosquitoes after rain
Gallery
Location
Located on the fringe of the village of Waturegama, Hideaway is exactly as its name suggests. Securely ‘hidden’ amongst coconut and pineapple plantations in a glorious rural setting way off the main highway, it is a refreshing distance from the nearest towns. Gampaha (16km) is the best town to visit for banks, pharmacies and supermarkets; however, if you are thinking of heading to the beach for the day in Negombo (42km), you could also find all of these facilities there.
Places of Interest(KMs) |
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| Kirindiwella | 4.0 |
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| Gampaha | 16.0 |
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| Airport | 35.0 |
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| Colombo | 37.0 |
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| Negombo | 42.0 |
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| Pinnewala | 43.0 |
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| Kurunegala | 65.0 |
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| Kandy | 74.0 |
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| Galle | 128.0 |
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About Gampaha
Gampaha town lies to the north of Colombo in a district of the same name that stretches from the golden, tourist-friendly beaches of Negombo to the lower reaches of the island’s rugged Hill Country. Separated from Colombo by the Kelaniya River, the region is famed for its almost ageless rural scene; plantations brimming with swaying coconut palms, prickly pineapples, aromatic spices and vast stretches of tranquil paddy land in between. Primarily forest land until 1826, Gampaha was discovered during the British colonial period when the Main Line railway between Colombo and Kandy was being constructed. It was the site of Asia’s first successful rubber tree plantation, and some of these trees can still be found in the city’s tranquil Henarathgoda Botanical Gardens today. Just as villages are sheathed in quiet simplicity, urban town centres are oppositely abuzz with activity as market traders come and go. Local eateries are numerous but most are basic and cater mainly to the local crowds. Conveniently located around an hour’s drive from the airport, this rural region is a favourite with travellers looking for peace and quiet that’s not too far off the beaten track.
About North West Coast
This spectacular region to the north of Colombo is a magical destination largely untouched by tourism. Highlighted by wildlife-filled wetlands, a sweeping stretch of largely undeveloped coastline, a friendly, multi-cultural people and stunning rural landscapes punctuated by huge boulders, lotus-topped lakes and jungle, it is historic, wild and raw.
Stretching from Negombo, a popular beach resort that’s close to the airport, the coastline continues all the way north via Waikkal and Marawila past lagoons and wetlands to the elbow-like peninsular of palm-fringed Kalpitiya and the stunning, recently-opened Wilpattu National Park, home to elephants, bears and leopards.
The beaches along the coastal stretch north of Negombo are beautifully unspoilt; the sea off Kalpitiya is famed for its dolphins and whales (between November and April) and is also a popular spot for kite surfers as well as anyone looking to escape the crowds. Each town along this coastal stretch – Chilaw, Puttalam, Kalpitiya – are important trading centres and are still home to remnants of the island’s colonial past - Dutch forts, Portuguese churches and British administrative buildings.
Inland the scene is very rural with the numerous coconut plantations of the golden triangle north of Gampaha soon giving way to small-scale farmlands that stretch between huge boulders and pretty lakes as the climate gets drier and the people much less used to visitors. Fascinating archaeological sites at Kurunegala, Tonigala, Yapahuwa, Dambadeniya and Panduwasnuwara are also located in the North West of the country and are beautiful, if seldom-visited illustrations of the island’s rich historical past.
Rooms
An entrance porch extends from the front of the house and access inside is via two railway-sleeper walkways either side of a tranquil goldfish pond. Leading off on either side of the entrance, both overlooking the driveway and gardens, are two gorgeous bedroom suites – Moon and Sun – their respective emblems shining from plaques on the walls.
Both suites are similar in layout. Each has a double bed with soaring, four-poster-style mosquito netting and a ceiling fan on the inside (note that none of the bedrooms has air conditioning). On each pair of dark wood bedside tables are a CD player, a retro alarm clock and an oil burner. To the front of each room is a lounge area with squashy sofa, writing desk, mini fridge and kettle. Each suite also has a wall mounted safe and an area to store belongings. Ensuite bathrooms are beautifully arranged with a chain flush toilet, shower, and glass sink arranged around an open-air raised jacuzzi bathtub dreamily enveloped by green and red palms.
At the heart of the house is an open-plan living and dining area separated by an original stuccoed archway that almost spans the width of the room. A sofa area faces a TV and antique cabinet bursting with movies and music for guests to tuck into and enjoy. To the far end of the room is a dining table for eight lit by a pair of low hanging lamps.
To the left of this living space a cool bar blends the new with the old; a contemporary backlit liquor display illuminates the bumpy texture of an exposed clay wall whilst an antique cart wheel hanging above the bar has been cleverly fashioned to hold a selection of glasses. Books, games and a sound system also add to this sociable room.
Opposite the bar is the third double guestroom, Star, with amenities similar to Moon and Sun (minus the lounge area). The ensuite bathroom has a shower, sink and chain flush toilet.
To the rear of the house is a walled courtyard with alfresco dining table and built-in barbeque, plus a kitchen and staff area to one side. There’s also a pavilion beside the swimming pool with further dining table for six and a second built-in barbeque overlooking the furthest reaches of the garden.
Key Amenities
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Swimming Pool (Private)
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TV (Satellite/Cable)
Other Amenities
- Baby Cot
- BBQ
- Bed Linen
- Bicycles
- Board Games/Toys
- Book Selection
- Car Parking
- CD Library
- CD Player/Stereo System
- Ceiling Fans
- DVD Library
- DVD Player
- Equipped Kitchen
- Extra Bed (Roll away/mattress)
- Food Menu
- Hairdryers
- Iron/Board
- Jacuzzi
- Laundry Service
- Main Dining (8 persons)
- Massage Beds
- Oven/Hotplates
- Safe
- Toiletries
- Towels
Villa Staff
- Babysitter (Extra)
- Chef/Cook (All meals)
- Housekeeping (Full time)
- Manager
- Security
- Service Staff
- Shopper
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Heavenly Hideaway is an enchanting manor house encircled by lush coconut and pineapple plantations that characterise the beautifully serene landscape of rural Gampaha. There are 3 gorgeous bedrooms, private jacuzzis, a cool bar, a TV with huge DVD selection, a generous swimming pool and a wonderfully pampering seven-strong staff team.
http://www.thevillaguide.com/villa/hideaway.aspx
