A Wonderful Escape In The Cameron Highlands

Andy Davison returns to The Lakehouse, his favourite boutique hotel in the cool Cameron Highlands, for a relaxing and rejuvenating escape from the city.

Many expats tell me they have not visited Cameron Highlands, which is a pity because it is well worth making the effort. It’s around a three-hour drive from KL or Penang, and though the last bit is quite steep, rising up into the cooler air and tree-covered hills makes it all worthwhile.

My family really enjoys our trips to this hill station, which is the largest in Malaysia. Cameron Highlands was first explored in 1885 by Sir William Cameron using elephants to push through the jungle. He spotted a large plateau, which he thought suitable for development. British planters subsequently realised the climate was suitable for growing tea plants, and in 1929 John Russell started clearing land for his tea plantation, the beginning of Malaysia’s famous Boh Tea. No trip to Cameron Highlands would be complete without a visit to the tea plantations.

We usually stay at The Lakehouse, a luxury boutique hotel which is a wonderfully relaxing place to stay. It was built in the late ’60s by a retired British Colonel, Stanley Foster, who had always dreamed of owning his own bed and breakfast. It opened for business in 1970 and is now part of the HPL hotel group, combining the resources and efficiencies of a large, professional hotel group with the unique charm and personal touches of a small, English-style inn.