Villa Clare

In summary

Villa Clare was designed and built by a Singapore based family. It is a perfect getaway for friends and families, away from the hustle of the towns. The ocean facing house is located on the crest of Mahawella headland, facing due South towards the famous Hoo Manyia blowhole.
The villa has 3 bedrooms, each overlooking the garden and ocean. Each having a double, four-poster bed and garden terrace. The walls of the main lounge open on both sides allowing views and sea breeze to spill into the house. Long deep sofas fill the lounge – perfect for relaxing and enjoying the views.


Indoors

The house is designed to encourage outdoor living. The two 3m wide entry doors open up the North wall of the house and the ocean view doors slide and stack open offering the living spaces to the breeze and ocean. The sunken lounge and galley kitchen are the soul of the house. Living, dining, cooking (if you want to), chilling and relaxing are all in open space. All the bedrooms have mosquito nets.
A baby cot can be available on request.

Bedroom 1
Located a split level above the lounge, the suite has a private ocean view terrace with large pivoting doors opening the bedroom to the ocean views. Sliding timber wall panels can open up the bedroom to the lounge and a walk-in dressing room and bathroom complete the suite. The room is provided with a king size bed + 1 single bed/mattress.

Bedroom 2
A large double bedroom with ocean facing terrace overlooks the large pandanus in the centre of the garden. Large pivoting doors also open onto a garden/ocean facing deck. Built-in wardrobes and connection to the adjoining bathroom suite complete the room. The room is provided with a king size bed + 1 single bed/mattress.

Bedroom 3
Located at the end of the main house, the room also has a large terrace and pivoting doors and large timber shutters opening to the garden. Built-in wardrobes and connection to the adjoining bathroom suite complete the room. The room is provided with a king size bed + 1 single bed/mattress.


Outdoors

The swimming pool nestles in the sloping garden, the infinity edge matching with the ocean horizon. The 15m length is enough to give you a gentle workout and is plenty of space for the family to relax. The pool is not fenced so the safety of all is down to the responsibility of the adults and each other. A timber cabana provides a shaded pool lounge at the end of the pool.

A beach is accessible from the house, through the cinnamon gate at the bottom of the garden. Take the steps down to the rocks for a wonderful isolated spot to sit and absorb the ocean song. The beach is accessible either across the rocks (be careful!) or via a pathway at the top of the headland – please ask the staff to show you.

There is a wide variety of bird and animal life in the garden, from the resident peacocks, monitor lizards to the Grey Langur with the jet black face and the cheeky Macaques who enjoy eating our garden fruit. You may be lucky to see porcupine, Giant Squirrels or Jungle Hares scampering across the garden.

The bird life is prolific with peacocks, seagulls, the Ceylon Grey Hornbill, barbets and the noisy Green Billed Coucal. Books and binoculars are available in the house to check anything interesting you may see. Breakfast on the lounge terrace is a great place to watch the birds grab a fruit breakfast from the tree right outside.

Badminton or a kick around on the lawn.
Board games (Monopoly, Scrabble and cards are available for use)


Service and staff

2 housekeepers/cooks, a gardener
The housekeepers (on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) will attend to all cleaning and help you with your needs (including helping to arrange transport, advice on places to visit and generally make sure the guests have a lovely comfortable stay).
They can prepare meals on request (meals are charged at the cost of ingredients plus transport costs).
The menu reflects the best seasonal produce locally available. Sri Lankan dishes form the basis of our menu along with great salads, pasta and seafood.
Seafood is bought fresh daily (as needed) and includes: tuna, snapper, Spanish mackerel, squid along with mussels and lobster which are collected and caught directly infront of the house (they are seasonally available, so please check with the staff).

Meals can be served in a variety of locations – just ask the staff – the courtyard – quiet, shady and peaceful – the terrace – beautiful ocean and pool views and lots of bird and wildlife in the early morning – the garden – a picnic under the shade of the trees overlooking the ocean or a loungey lunch by the poolside under the shelter of the cinnamon cabana.
A menu can be provided in advance if required.


Location

House can be reached from Colombo Airport OR you can book the Sea Plane service which lands on Dikwella Lagoon (from Colombo), 2 minutes drive from our house. The staff can meet you at the quayside OR we can arrange a vehicle to collect you from Hambantota International Airport which is 40 minutes drive away, though flights in and out of this new airport are limited at the moment.


Notes

- Children must be taken care of as it is a country house with the usual dangers and obstacles of country living
- There are 2 additional single beds with mosquito nets and they are 2 baby cots available
- The house has WiFi.
- The house is not air conditioned. All rooms have ceiling fans