Ashburnham Tea Estate

The service here was nothing short of incredible. The service from Vish especially was fantastic, he was always smiling and very fast with the food. Really enjoyed my stay here and Vish made sure to make us feel 100% comfortable and happy there. Highly recommend coming here. Additionally the waterfall nearby is a must to go.

Ashburnham is a really special place and feels like stepping back in time. It is still a small working tea estate and all of the accommodation are rooms in what was the estate owners house and that added a really authentic feel to our stay. The communal lounge was really nice, though we were never in there, all of our free time was spent at the lovely pool or, for meals and early evening drinks, out on the front terrace with beautiful views out over the hills. The bedrooms and bathrooms were very nicely furnished and comfortable. Something to be aware of is that there is no air conditioning and, although it is much cooler than down in Kandy town, we needed all of the windows open at night and, with no screens on the windows this resulted in some quite large spiders visiting. The tea tour with the estate manager was really interesting and the waterfall is a beautiful place for a dip before the arduous trek back up to the house. We were the only guests whilst we were there and it felt, at times, like they were not really fully open. There was only really one member of staff evident who filled the role of front of house, waiter, barman and fixer. He was great but, if he had gone off elsewhere, then we felt like we were living in a big house where we didn’t know where anything was or how it worked. It didn’t feel quite right to go into a “hotel” kitchen in search of milk for a cup of tea. With a little more attention to detail and customer service, this place could be a really unforgettable stay.

Don't miss the informative and entertaining Tea Plantation tour. The 400 vertical foot Hike to waterfall is rewarded with an impressive 50 foot high waterfall and is a refreshing swim in the pool below. 

No air conditioning in the historic 1930s plantation house. Meals are simple but you traveled the long winding road to experience life on a tea plantation a century ago. Well worth it. Such friendly welcoming staff make you feel like you're staying at relatives home.

We had an enjoyable time at Ashburnham but the hotel is in need of some TLC to keep it looking like the photos on the website. Our first night was in the smallest room (The Bay Room) which looks out at a wall. The room just needed some money spending as the sofa had water stains on it, the paint was peeling and the white wall and floor outside was grey and unattractive to look out on - not helped that dogs had done their business out there! We were moved after one night to a much nicer room - although still the windows did not shut properly and you could not lock the door (not that this was a problem for us in such a small hotel but still I mention as it may be for some). The food is ok but the Western dishes are priced very highly. The first night's dinner was not very nice (perhaps we just ate after other guests and our fish had been left for a long time as it was very dry and came in a pineapple sauce which seemed odd.) After the first night we asked for Sri Lankan food and the staff were super accommodating (especially lovely Vish) and the food we ate after that was very good and was offered to us at half the price of the Western food. The staff are lovely and we greatly appreciated their efforts taking a picnic down to the lovely waterfall for us. We also did a nice guided walk up One Tree Hill and saw much more tea than is visible around the hotel. (I mention this as the tea was a big thing for me. My husband was born on a tea estate in India and I have always wanted to go and see a tea estate, but now there is very little actually around the hotel at Asburnham and the trees have been allowed to grow so tall that the views from the hotel are limited.) All in all, the staff are great, very friendly and hard working, but the owner needs to spend some money on the hotel as it simply does not look like the photos.

We loved Ashburnham. It is friendly, 'colonial', quiet, and scenic. The rooms are slightly jaded in the nicest possible way. They are well serviced, and the bathroom is good. The communal area is largely made up of a large, comfortable hallway/sitting room and a lovely terrace outside. The swimming pool is nearby, well shaded from too much sun, but consequentially fresher than the Sri Lankan norm. My slight niggle with the experience was the additional cost (mentioned in other reviews). I think $30 pp for a dinner was about twice the price that we paid elsewhere for about the same. The wander around the tea part of the estate was well worth it in a relaxed way. A picnic at the waterfall was lovely (but price-y for what it was) (by the way, keep an eye out for leeches - and on the tea walk) The staff were lovely and went out of their way to help.

The situation of the bungalow is truly beautiful, wonderful views of tea planting from the balcony. Yes- faded colonial grandeur, but very comfortable. Staff were very attentive, helpful, charming. Food was also good. Pool is warm, clean and welcoming. we thoroughly enjoyed the tea tour- very informative. However, as others have noted there is no transparency over the cost of anything-no prices displayed anywhere. It is true that one can ask, but once arrived, you are a captive audience, as the drive is long and there is nowhere else for miles around. Another word of caution- we thought that the picnic by the waterfall was exceptionally over priced- it didn’t accord with the photos, and consisted of a wrap, few fries and a soft drink or two. Cost of $20 each seemed steep at the time, and then the final bill stated that the price of the food wasn’t even included- we had to challenge this and it was withdrawn. $20 dollars each without food? We could easily have carried the basket ourselves.

We spent two nights at Ashburnham and they were wonderful and a highlight of our time in Sri Lanka. It is a special and peaceful place which feels more like someone’s home than a hotel and perfect for reading and relaxing. Given the price I think breakfast and lunch could be improved and it would have been good to know how much lunch and dinner cost at the outset. G&Ts at sunset on the terrace are a must!

A wonderful three days at Ashburnham Estate including Christmas Day. A magical place to relax and explore. The staff were fantastic, as was the food and tea! Thank you to David, Indi and all at Ashburnham for a fabulous time!

We loved our two nights at the Ashburnham Estate. It is an old colonial home with a huge porch overlooking the gardens, trees and tea plantations. The staff were delightful and a few had been there for 18 years and up. We had a lovely time here.