Stonyhurst - a cosy & luxurious cottage

Stonyhurst accommodates upto 8 (no kids below 10 please). The rate shown is for 2 guests, add US$75 per additional guest per night. A booking secures the entire house. It is given out selectively, being a cherished family holiday home and is one of the nicest place to stay in the area. Stonyhurst is located near the centre of town, walking distance to the Golf Club, Hill Club, Grand Hotel, Lake Gregory, Race Course yet in a very tranquil location as you will see in the photos. The house is let out on exclusive use, full villa basis. Rates vary depending on the number of guests. The standard rate shown of US$250 is for 2 guests, add US$75/night for each additional guest upto a maximum of 8. The rate includes housekeeping and service from hospitable John, the butler/cook. Stonyhurst has 6 bedrooms - 4 bedrooms have king beds, the fifth bedroom has twin beds and the sixth bedroom has twin bunk beds. To manage the house better, I limit the number of guests to 8. Please make an inquiry indicating number of guests, adults and kids with ages. No kids below 10 please. WHAT'S STONYHURST LIKE? When you think of toasty log fires, hot water bottles and electric heaters, Sri Lanka doesn't immediately come to mind. But at Stonyhurst in Nuwara Eliya – the island's highest town set deep in the heart of the vertiginous hill country – these indulgent features warmly embrace you from the night time chill. Situated at an elevation of over 6,000 feet, the climate in this hill country capital known as ‘Little England' shares more similarities with summertime Europe than with Asia; think hot sunny days and cool nights. Rearing tall above a lush lawn fringed by neat borders of flowers, Stonyhurst beautifully captures the views, the anomalies and the unique character of this unique market town. It's a cherished hill country escape for its Colombo-based owners, and they have done much to make this exquisite granite-walled two-storey house feel like home. John, Stonyhurst's wonderful caretaker and cook, adds to the charm as he looks after guests with grace and warmth. Invisibly, he uses music to set the scene, warms your bed with hot water bottles, lights the fires and is at your side before you've even thought about what you need. The living and dining rooms at Stonyhurst are on the ground floor, and the six bedrooms (including a kid's bunk room) are all upstairs. Furnished with cosy sofas, armchairs and beanbags, the burgundy-hued lounge is the heart of the house and it spills breezily onto a lawn spiked by ancient fir trees and colourful flowering bushes. A dining room with pantry sits next to the lounge, and there's also an attached kitchen too for guests to use if they please. Table tennis is available at Stonyhurst, as are garden games including croquet, and there are also four bicycles for getting out and exploring the back lanes of Nuwara Eliya. Bedrooms are beautifully cosy and feature parquet floors topped with soft rugs and long drapes to keep out the cold. Beds are dressed with soft duvets and plumped with pillows. The bathrooms follow a colonial aesthetic but are fitted with strong hot water rain showers. Bedrooms gaze out over the surrounding mountains, the neighbouring vegetable plots and the Holy Trinity Church. Two double bedrooms are ensuite. One of these is the master bedroom, which is very spacious and celebrates views over the front and side garden. Furnished with an antique four-poster bed draped with linen, there is also a rattan chaise longue, a chest of drawers, his and hers wardrobes, a TV with DVD player and a raised fireplace. French windows lead onto a side balcony shared with a smaller double ensuite bedroom, which is furnished with a queen-size four-poster bed. A further two floral-hued double bedrooms share in views over the front lawn and the mountains. Each features a double bed, a wardrobe or chest of drawers and wall mounted reading lamps. They share a bathroom across the hall. The final two rooms are a twin and a bunk room, and these also share a bathroom across the hallway. The twin features two double beds and the bunk room comes with a pair of bunk beds, which can sleep up to four children. This house is a family holiday home, and it's been designed with children in mind. Kids books and DVDs share cabinet space with board games, and there's a twin bedroom as well as a four-bed bunk room. Children will love riding ponies at the racecourse, playing in Victoria Park and exploring the enclosed garden. You will have exclusive access to the entire house. Being a holiday home I am not at Stonyhurst but John the butler will take good care of you and I am always contactable for advice or any issue that may arise. THINGS TO DO: Go trekking in the surrounding mountains or make a trip to Horton Plains Visit the nearby Pedro Tea Estate for a guided tour of the factory Wander down to the neighbouring Holy Trinity Church. Built in 1845, the graveyard is littered with the tombstones of British planters dating back over a century Play a round of golf at the challenging 125 year old Nuwara Eliya Golf Club Have a meal at the venerable Hill Club built by British tea planters Visit the Dilmah t lounge at the Grand Hotel to enjoy specialist Ceylon teas Stroll around Hakgala Botanical Gardens. Stop off at the - Humbugs strawberry restaurant and visit the Sitha Ella Hindu shrine on the way back Jump aboard pedalos and punt around the town's historic Gregory's Lake Explore the back lanes of town astride one of Stonyhurst's bicycles Close to town centre for buses and taxis. Meals and drinks - please purchase provisions from the market and John will cook a wide range of meals for you. Or give him a cash float and he will purchase and provide you with an account at the end of your stay. If you are coming up with a driver, accommodation is provided in the staff quarters. Wi-fi is included for emails and web browsing but not for streaming HD video please! As Stonyhurst is situated at an altitude of almost 6000ft or 2000m a light sweater would be useful for chilly evenings. Daytime temperatures are around 24c and at night can drop to 12-15c