Claughton House

10/10

Claughton house is another master piece of Geoffrey Bawa, that situated in Dikwella towards most southern part of Sri Lanka. We were given the master room and it was very comfortable. The room additionally offers a private small garden which you could have a cooling shower. Room amenities look bit ware-out but still comfortable. The huge garden was well maintained and the pool also clean. Since the house could accommodate few few number of guests, some times you may be lucky to have the pool and garden to your self only. The food is tasty but can be good with few more dishes. But they were kind enough to prepare a special mead for our kid. From the location you could see the very scenic Dikwella bay and very close proximity to the world famous Hummane "blow hole". The stay is worth the money you spent.

10/10

The refurbished villa (Nov 2014) is spectacular. The staff are attentive albeit maybe a bit Colonial in their style and the setting is paradise. The food prepared by the chef was excellent. On the negative side, the car hired for us for a trip to Yala from the Chefs friend had mechanical problems and we were not sure if it would complete the entire journey! The pool is a good size and the beach at the bottom of the garden is great for body surfing and swimming. The villa is on a hill so the villa would not suited for anyone with mobility problems. A definite recommend.

10/10

We recently (April 2014) stayed at Claughton House and were treated to an amazing stay at this beautiful property - we only wished we could have stayed longer. We were greeted on arrival by Ajith (who serves as the chef and front of house) and his very attentive staff after a long drive in sweltering conditions. Within minutes of walking through the door we each had cold coconut juices in our hands and our bags tucked away in our rooms, leaving us to admire the amazing views from the front balcony of the house. We we're a bit nervous about the state of the rooms at Claughton as several of the reviews we had read on Tripadvisor suggested the property was getting a bit tired, but upon arrival we were greeted by newly refurbished rooms and outdoor areas - the refurbishment has been done really well and is sympathetic to this Bawa designed villa. The grounds of the house are huge and very private, with a palm dotted lawn running down to a swimming pool and pool house (where drinks and/or dinner can be taken) perched on a low cliff overlooking a long expanse of sandy beach with a fishing harbour in the far distance - pretty breathtaking stuff and a great backdrop for meals, drinks, etc. The property runs down to the beach if you ever get tired of swimming in the pool, and on several mornings we saw a number of learner surfers from a local surf camp out on the waves below us. Ajith gave us recommendations for our dinner each night (and was open to our suggestions for variations to his proposed menu), and never failed to impress with what arrived on the dinner table each meal time - he has spent many years working as a chef in the Middle East and his experience shows. His food was a highlight of our stay and I can only assume he has started working at Claughton since the poor reviews below (I have heard the villa has changed hands fairly recently, with this possibly being the catalyst for the refurbishment and new kitchen staff?). Our friends and ourselves were travelling with 2 young children it was always easy to arrange something suitable for them to eat at an early hour which was handy. Ajith buys all of the groceries you need for your stay, and the cost for food for our stay worked out as USD$33/day for two adults and one 2.5 year old for breakfast, lunch and dinner - about $12 each adult. Will hopefully be back to Claughton in the not too distant future.

10/10

We spent three nights here from 2nd March 2015 to 5th March. The location and design, layout, decor, upkeep are all outstanding. We have long been fans of Geoffrey Bawa after staying at the Villa Mohotti in Bentota and each room in Claughton is built in a way that natural ventilation is enough to keep you comfortable. The food and service are also great, we were particularly touched by the flexibility shown by the management. We occupied four of the five rooms and each one was equally comfortable, will be going back soon! We would highly recommend this rental to anyone looking for peace and quiet.

10/10

Stayed at claughton house in may first week with friends and family.we had the time of our lives there and enjoyed the hospitality and food immensely.The view of the sea from the property is mind blowing.The staff of the property was very helpful and gave us excellent service.The food,especially the breakfast was delicious.The swimming pool was well maintained and we enjoyed there thoroughly.