The Pekoe Trail - Stage 13 - Haputale To St. Catherine - Official Profile
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 8.38 mi
- Elevation gain
- 2,641 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,168 ft
- Max elevation
- 6,319 ft
- TrailRank
-
44
4.8
- Min elevation
- 4,675 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 2 hours 42 minutes
- Coordinates
- 220
- Uploaded
- April 23, 2022
- Recorded
- April 2022
near Haputale, Uva (Sri Lanka)
Viewed 2220 times, downloaded 235 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
IMPORTANT NOTE: The stage is walkable but not yet fully signposted. Trail users are advised to consider all the information available and to heed local advice when available. The services of a professional mountain guide are recommended. Trail users are responsible for all decisions as to the trail routes, trail conditions, weather, and safety. In addition to the hazards posed by steep terrain and mountain weather, hikers should be prepared for difficult route-finding and challenging trail conditions, dogs, leaches, heavy rain, intermittent thunderstorms, and plenty of sun. It is recommended to drink at least 1/2 litre of water per hour when hiking. Access to emergency medical care and rescue is not always immediately available.
Please download the latest version of the map before navigating the stage to avoid missing out on any re-routing.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGE
This is a very scenic route from one of the major towns in tea country, Haputale, to the upper divisions of the Nayabedda Tea Estate from where Sir Thomas Lipton once surveyed his favorite tea estates. From here, the panoramic views of the mountains and rivers are truly breathtaking.
The path begins by exiting the town on the main road towards Bandarawela. At the post office, it turns right towards the Forestry Department office and bungalow. Just past the bungalow, there is a signboard and a few steps peeling off to the right. The next bit is a forest reserve, cool and humid and ideal for walking uphill in the shade. The trail resolves onto a tea estate road.
Soon visitors have a choice: take steps up or take a longer route to avoid them. After a short distance, the route lands in another valley, the Thotalagala - Dambatenne Valley. Lipton Seat is across the valley straight ahead.
The trail gradually descends and then climbs uphill following a very well-marked and beautiful tea trail. These are the paths of an organic bio-tea-producing estate called Green Field. Next, the path leaves the wider trail to take a left on a much thinner track. From here it's a fairly straightforward, relatively flat walk for a while. The views across the valley to Lipton Seat are fabulous all the way.
A much steeper climb towards the top of the mountain is ahead. The guide is the telecom tower on the top. The top of the mountain is more or less the same height as Lipton Seat. This plateau has several green tea fields and a few small villages.
The stage ends at St. Catherine, the first picturesque tea plantation worker's village in the upper divisions of the Nayabedda Tea Estate. Just before it enters the village there's an impressive Hindu Kovil on the right. Visitors must remember to take their shoes off if choosing to enter the complex and pay homage to the deities.
Some may want to keep walking and visit Lipton Seat - this can be done with a walk across the plateau. Lipton Seat is a popular destination for local tourists so some traffic is the be expected here. Close to the top, there is an entrance fee. The final rugged walk uphill to see Lipton’s Seat offers the opportunity to take a picture with the statue of Sir Thomas Lipton, surrounded by panoramic views. On a clear day, one can see as far as Udawalawe National Park and almost the entire Uva Province.
PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU AND IF YOU SEE ANY RUBBISH OTHERS LEFT BEHIND TRY TO TAKE IT - EVEN IF JUST A BOTTLE OR A PLASTIC BAG, EVERY BIT COUNTS - THANK YOU.
The Pekoe Trail is designed to support development and livelihoods in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Buying goods and services from local businesses helps communities along the trail to thrive. The Pekoe Trail is made possible thanks to generous funding from the European Union with additional support from the US Agency for International Development
Please download the latest version of the map before navigating the stage to avoid missing out on any re-routing.
-----------------
DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGE
This is a very scenic route from one of the major towns in tea country, Haputale, to the upper divisions of the Nayabedda Tea Estate from where Sir Thomas Lipton once surveyed his favorite tea estates. From here, the panoramic views of the mountains and rivers are truly breathtaking.
The path begins by exiting the town on the main road towards Bandarawela. At the post office, it turns right towards the Forestry Department office and bungalow. Just past the bungalow, there is a signboard and a few steps peeling off to the right. The next bit is a forest reserve, cool and humid and ideal for walking uphill in the shade. The trail resolves onto a tea estate road.
Soon visitors have a choice: take steps up or take a longer route to avoid them. After a short distance, the route lands in another valley, the Thotalagala - Dambatenne Valley. Lipton Seat is across the valley straight ahead.
The trail gradually descends and then climbs uphill following a very well-marked and beautiful tea trail. These are the paths of an organic bio-tea-producing estate called Green Field. Next, the path leaves the wider trail to take a left on a much thinner track. From here it's a fairly straightforward, relatively flat walk for a while. The views across the valley to Lipton Seat are fabulous all the way.
A much steeper climb towards the top of the mountain is ahead. The guide is the telecom tower on the top. The top of the mountain is more or less the same height as Lipton Seat. This plateau has several green tea fields and a few small villages.
The stage ends at St. Catherine, the first picturesque tea plantation worker's village in the upper divisions of the Nayabedda Tea Estate. Just before it enters the village there's an impressive Hindu Kovil on the right. Visitors must remember to take their shoes off if choosing to enter the complex and pay homage to the deities.
Some may want to keep walking and visit Lipton Seat - this can be done with a walk across the plateau. Lipton Seat is a popular destination for local tourists so some traffic is the be expected here. Close to the top, there is an entrance fee. The final rugged walk uphill to see Lipton’s Seat offers the opportunity to take a picture with the statue of Sir Thomas Lipton, surrounded by panoramic views. On a clear day, one can see as far as Udawalawe National Park and almost the entire Uva Province.
PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR RUBBISH WITH YOU AND IF YOU SEE ANY RUBBISH OTHERS LEFT BEHIND TRY TO TAKE IT - EVEN IF JUST A BOTTLE OR A PLASTIC BAG, EVERY BIT COUNTS - THANK YOU.
The Pekoe Trail is designed to support development and livelihoods in rural areas of Sri Lanka. Buying goods and services from local businesses helps communities along the trail to thrive. The Pekoe Trail is made possible thanks to generous funding from the European Union with additional support from the US Agency for International Development
Comments (9)
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I have followed this trail verified View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
At Sherwood in Haputale estate road has blocked with a gate by estate manager.
I have followed this trail verified View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Amazing hike, stunning views. It was super easy to follow the map and stay on track. We did this hike in reverse from St Catherine’s to Haputalle— 2 ladies, a young boy and a dog. The trail is magic and so well mapped that even people like us with not much sense of direction just followed the map and didn’t get lost. One of the best hikes ever.
No gates or any blockages at all despite what an earlier reviewer said.
My first hiking ever and my first use of Wikiloc. This was interesting and cool.
Moj prvi hiking ikad i prvi put koristim Wikiloc. Bilo je zanimljivo i cool
Breath taking views of higlands of sri lanka. Tea plantaions looks like a green carpet. Can seen the day today activities of tamil estate workers.
@Orzu, did you stay in/near St Catherine’s and if so, can you share where you stayed (and if it was okay)? Hoping to hike it from Haputale to St Catherine but wasn’t sure if we’d have somewhere to stay on the far end. We don’t have a tent so looking for a guest house/homestay. Thanks for your help!!
Unfortunately there isn’t a formal place to stay yet in St. Catherine’s. The Pekoe Trail is working on helping local community members set up homestays and other accommodation/services. Perhaps best to get dropped at the village (or even start at Lipton Seat) and walk to Haputale or to Makulella.
That’s super helpful, thanks for the info!
I have followed this trail verified View more
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Easy to follow
Scenery
Moderate
Étape qui prend de l'altitude et qui permet normalement de voir les montagnes. " Malheureusement", elle était peu visible. Un épais nuage recouvrait l'ensemble de celle-ci. Toutefois, par moment, elles se découvraient quelques minutes. La montée est simple et le décor est magnifique. Vous traversez les plantations de thé, saluez les femmes qui, avec agilités, retirent les quelques jeunes feuilles prêtent à être récoltées. Arrivé à St Catherine, vous vous retrouvez dans un petit village, aux rues étroites entourées de jardins. C'est très intéressant . Chaque espace est utilisé . Il y a une petite boutique pour acheter quelques biscuits. Il n'y a pas d'eau, mais la dame du magasin me donne de l'eau qui doit être filtrée . En tout cas , je n'ai pas été malade ! 🙂 Il n'y a pas un endroit pour dormir. Vu qu'il est midi, je décide de reprendre la route jusque Makulella.