Ellerton: A Colonial Bungalow near Gampola, Sri Lanka

Built over 100 years ago for the manager of a major tea estate, Ellerton has been lovingly preserved by its current owners, Richard and Cary Goode. Sitting at 2,400 feet near Gampola, the property retains the character and tranquillity of colonial days while offering a warm, informal welcome to guests from around the world.

Ellerton sits close to the geographic centre of Sri Lanka, making it a particularly convenient base for exploring the island. Colombo and the international airport are roughly 3 hours away, the World Heritage city of Kandy — with its renowned botanical gardens and other attractions — is just 30 minutes by road, and the Cultural Triangle to the north is within 2 hours' drive.

Climate and Setting

The elevation of 2,400 feet gives Ellerton an enviable balance of weather. Days are warm and sunny, evenings and nights are comfortably cool, yet the property avoids both the humidity of the coast and the distinct chill of the higher hill country. The beautiful gardens are rich with interesting flowers, butterflies, and birds — including the Sri Lankan Hanging Parrot, Golden Oriole, Sunbirds, and the Plum Headed Parakeet — and also supply vegetables and fruit for the kitchen. The countryside surrounding Ellerton is crossed by many paths and tea estate roads, making walking and cycling easy and rewarding.

The Main House

The Main House features a colonial-style veranda leading directly into a large open-sided Pavilion, where meals are normally served and which doubles as a shady retreat for reading or admiring the view. Inside, a spacious sitting room furnished with antiques, a dining room that seats 12, and a study with satellite television make up the communal spaces. There are two guest bedrooms — one double and one twin — each with its own bathroom. The twin bedroom has an additional single room leading off it.

The Valley House

Set some thirty yards from the Main House and adjacent to the swimming pool, the Valley House offers spectacular views and three generous bedrooms: two doubles and a twin. Both double rooms have their own bathrooms, while the twin room has a shower. A large veranda runs the length of the Valley House, making it a natural spot to sit and relax, and guests there may choose to take their meals on the veranda rather than at the Pavilion.

The Swimming Pool

The swimming pool serves as a wonderful vantage point for gazing 20 miles down the valley. It is fed from the property's own borehole and uses very little in the way of chemicals, which noticeably enhances the pleasure of swimming.

Food, Drink, and Everyday Life

Ellerton is very informal, and the hosts aim to accommodate most requirements when it comes to meals. A standing policy of complimentary drinks with lunch and dinner — covering local beer, gin, whisky, and mixers, as well as fruit juices — adds a generous, house-party feel to every stay. Drinking water comes from the property's own spring and borehole, though bottled water is available on request. The house is furnished in a relaxed country-house style, with books, magazines, music, games, and cards all on hand, reflecting the fact that this is genuinely the Goodes' home when they are in Sri Lanka.