James Taylor's Site Road(edit)

TRAIL PASS: Now mandatory to walk this stage and can be purchased online at https://members.thepekoetrail.org/passes/create. Pekoe Trail Members are not required to buy a pass. If you would like to explore membership opportunities https://members.thepekoetrail.org Please note that a ticket will be issued by the authorities of the Loolkandura Tea Estate when existing stage 2. Tickets are priced at - LKR 200/- for Locals and LKR 1000/- for Foreigners IMPORTANT NOTE -The stage is walkable and signposted. Look out for orange circles with a white arrow. 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 litter of water per hour when hiking. Access to emergency medical care and rescue is not always immediately available. ----------------- DESCRIPTION OF THE STAGE Today’s walk can be divided into two distinct parts. The first section takes us from Galaha to Deltota and the second from Deltota to Loolecondera. Galaha to Deltota is a short and rewarding hike. The first kilometer is on the road toward Galaha General Hospital. Soon, you leave the main road and head into the Deltota Estate. Locals will tell you the road to Deltota or Loolecondera is the main road. Do not take their advice, stay left. There is absolutely no need to walk on the main road, the path through the Deltota Estate is beautiful. At the 1.3 km point, we leave the main road and take the path to your right. There is a signboard saying "Welcome to the Deltota Estate". We will leave a large school ground to the right and walk by a few houses as we approach a rather steep section of the path. Do look back as you ascend, the views of the Hantana Estate and the mountains behind are stunning. Once we reach the intersection there is a tea weighing station. Take the track to the right. The path on this stretch is wide and very easy to follow. Soon you will reach a village and the way becomes a little more intricate. Time to check your GPS device and follow the markings. At the 4.6 km point make sure you cross the bridge to your left. This is an important turning point. If you get a little lost, ask the locals - this time do take their advice. There are lots of twists and turns as you approach Deltota town. Deltota is a typical hill country town with a lively market, but perhaps the most striking feature of the town is the large green mosque. The market is well worth stopping at. There are plenty of fruits and veggies and a very colorful painted mural. As you walk out of Deltota we take to the main road that leads to Galaha for approximately 50 meters and then takes a steep road up to the left. This road turns into gravel and the path forks right. For the next 2.5 km, we follow an old trail through an old pine forest under the share of enormous trees. This forest area is prone to leaches. At the 8.3 km point, the trail joins an old tea estate road and then zig-zags all the way up the mountain. As we gain elevation the views get better and better. The path is wide and easy to follow. At the 9.3 km point, close to the top, the track levels out. If you look up to your right you will see a communications tower positioned slightly above the trail. Walk carefully as this is high mountain terrain and on a rainy day the path may be a little slippery. At the 9.7 km point, there is an abandoned village, shortly after which you cross a small river. The track thins out here for about 300 meters. Every so often you will see a concrete post painted in yellow and red on the side of the trail making the trail very easy to follow. At the 10.5 km point, the small path turns into a wide tea track as you enter the higher divisions of the Loolecondera Estate. On this beautiful walk section, you can see the original cottage set up by James Taylor. This is an important milestone of the Pekoe Trail. You are walking on the fertile soil that gave birth to the first tea plants in Sri Lanka. James Taylor’s cottage is a short walk up the track you will come across on your right. It’s a slow and easy descent from here to the road below through some of the most beautiful tea bushes. The massive rock formation and the dense high-elevation rainforest in front of you, as you descend, are breathtaking. The end of the stage is marked by a bridge and a Hindu shrine. Just before you reach the end you will see a small building on your right, an information center set up for travelers with clean toilets. PLEASE TAKE ALL YOUR GARBAGE WITH YOU AND IF YOU SEE ANY