August Beach House

August Beach House sits right on the sand of Weligama Bay, on Sri Lanka’s south coast, with a garden gate that opens straight onto one of the island’s best-loved beginner surf beaches. Surf schools, board rentals, cafés and restaurants are all a short stroll along the shore, yet the house itself feels private behind its trees and white picket fence. With four bedrooms for up to nine guests, it suits families and groups of friends who want the beach, the waves and a relaxed home base all in one.

Outside, a ten-by-five-metre private pool lies at the heart of a shaded tropical garden, with sun loungers along its edge and hammocks strung between the trees. The pool deck and covered terrace give plenty of places to sit out of the midday sun, and the lawn runs down to the beach gate, so it is easy to move between sea and pool all day. Upstairs, a wide balcony looks straight out over the bay, a lovely spot for an early cup of tea while the first surfers paddle out.

Indoors, the style blends contemporary pieces with antique woodwork, artworks and imported linen. The upper-level living room overlooks the ocean, with soft sofas, a well-stocked bookshelf and a flat-screen TV, and a fully equipped open kitchen sits beside a long wooden dining table facing the garden and pool. Three bedrooms have king beds and one has two singles, all air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, and some have freestanding or stone baths. A team of five looks after housekeeping, laundry and evening security, and breakfast is included, with Sri Lankan cooking classes and a market tour on offer.