Claughton House, Kudawella

From the winding driveway of Claughton House, you will arrive at a single-story entrance, with a badger family crest emblemized above and secured with an iron gate. Crossing the threshold into the long hallway, a glimpse of the alluring Indian ocean leads you to the multi-tiered open living space and a truly mind-blowing view. Your gaze gently descends from the house through the well-kept lawn, festooned with elegant coconut trees, past the inviting pool terrace, to the wonderful white sand of Kudawella Beach. Completing a few circuits of this grand panorama, you can appreciate the thoughtful design and overall impact. Back at the entrance hall, there’s a little concrete bench and a door to the left that leads to a tropical courtyard complete with a shower, two chairs and a table. Another door at the end of the courtyard leads to the bedroom, cooled by air con and furnished with twin beds, a sofa bed and en suite bathrooms. Large floor to ceiling windows allow max visual pleasure across the gardens. Entering from the upper tier of the living space, the second bedroom is furnished with three single beds, air con and an en suite bathroom. The bedroom’s private courtyard is situated at the back of the room and comes with an outdoor shower to compliment the polished concrete tub in the bathroom. Floor to ceiling windows frame the stunning gardens. The master bedroom, to the other side of the upper tier terrace, has an enticing king-size bed dressed in crisp white linen and comes with built in wardrobes, a teak desk and a sofa that can be made into a single child’s bed. The en suite bathroom is homage to polished concrete but for alfresco, the private courtyard garden houses an outdoor shower. A small balcony leads out from the front of the room to provide elevated views across the gardens and out to sea.   The fourth and fifth bedrooms are located towards the back of the house and are accessed along a covered walk way emerging from the kitchen. Both are en suite with; bedroom four has a king size bed with private terrace, and bedroom five is a twin bedroom with Satellite TV and games. A table tennis table is placed in the adjoining hall of this bedroom. A yoga pavilion perches on the top of the hill with inspiring easterly views across the garden and out to sea. Overlooking the bay at the bottom of the garden, the pool terrace floats amongst the rocks. The pool has a shallow platform for relaxing, and the deep end is perfect for a mid-afternoon plunge. Shade can be found under the trees or in the pavilion. Steps lead down from the pool to the private beach gate and onto Kudawella Beach. The beach is great for morning runs or evening strolls, and the bay enjoys good surf breaks for both the beginner, and the more experienced. The upper terrace of the main house has a dining level with a polished concrete table for twelve. The middle tier has two sofas and a huge bean bag chair, whilst the lower level is decked with seats and a coffee table. What underpins this villa and makes it an absolute pleasure, is the intelligence with which Geoffrey Bawa designed it. The natural airflow that glides up the hill and through the open face, refreshes every corner and keeps the space cool. The various tiers of the living area and the placement of the bedrooms – with their secluded courtyards - provide privacy and intimacy. The view is awe-inspiring and Claughton House provides the perfect platform to fully appreciate it.

Chef Laundry

63km from Galle Distance from airport: 3hrs 45