Horton Plains Walk

Horton Plains was declared a National Park in 1988 and covers 3,160 hectares of grasslands interspersed with forest and forms an undulating plateau more than 2,000 m (6,600 ft) high. The best time to visit these strangely exotic moorlands above Nuwara Eliya is in the early morning.

You rise through the wooded countryside on winding lanes. If you are lucky you may get a glimpse of Adam’s Peak in the distance to your right shortly before you reach the open uplands of Horton Plains. Arriving at the entrance gate, you start your walk. The trail is clear throughout, reaching 'Little World's End' in 45 minutes, walking through woodland, then 15 minutes later, the greater drop of World’s End. On a clear day, the view is incredible.

From this point, you can either return to the entrance the same way you came or continue on an open pathway (no more shade) around hillsides until a short climb brings you to the ridge just above Baker’s Falls, where a track leads down to the water. The falls are about 20 metres high, and are worth visiting if you are a keen walker and prepared to do the longer circuit.

Returning to the entrance gate is along another open path and takes around 45 minutes. The entire walk is around 8 km if you walk to World’s End and back, or around 9 km (5.6 miles) if you do the full circuit.