Kotagala to Norwood
16.48 km · Moderate · 5 hours · Nuwara Eliya district · Maskeliya basin
Stage 7 leaves Kotagala on wide, relatively flat roads and rolls toward Norwood across the Maskeliya basin. The day passes Castlereagh Reservoir, two colonial railway tunnels, and the Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club - one of the most atmospheric working tea-country cricket grounds in Sri Lanka.
What you’ll walk through
The roads on this stage are wide and well-graded - what locals call “tea-truck width.” The trail ascends gradually through Drayton Estate, drops to Hatton, and follows the Singamalai Tunnel and the Castlereagh Reservoir before climbing again into Norwood Tea Estate at the day’s finish.
Landmarks on this stage
- Drayton Estate - A long working tea estate that the trail crosses lengthwise.
- Chrysler's Farm Tea Factory - Mid-stage factory still in production.
- Singamalai Tunnel No 14 - A short colonial railway tunnel the trail passes alongside.
- Singamalai Reservoir - A small reservoir below the tunnel.
- Hatton - The major hill-country town the trail skirts.
- Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club - A working tea-country cricket ground.
- Castlereagh Reservoir - Long-water view across the basin.
- Kehelgamu Oya - The river you cross before climbing to Norwood.
When to walk
Year-round walking - the wide roads handle rain better than the forest stages. Dry Season gives the clearest views across Castlereagh.
Walk it with Hike Lanka
You can pick this stage as a day hike, link it with the adjacent stages as a section trek of three to seven days, or walk the entire 22-stage end-to-end trek with our small-group fourteen-day guided expedition. We handle lodging, permits, transport, and the on-the-ground logistics; you walk.
Walk Stage 07 with us
Pick this stage as part of a custom section trek, or join the full end-to-end Pekoe Trek. A real guide responds to every enquiry.
Browse every Sri Lanka hiking tour we run, from Kandy day hikes and the Knuckles traverse to the full 22-stage Pekoe traverse.
Book the Full Trek Plan a Custom Route