The 7 Wonders Of Copthorne
By Phil Foo
I love it when hotels get creative and offer guests something new and refreshing. Copthorne Cameron Highlands, one of the best hotels up here in this beautiful hill retreat saw a need to create something new for visitors that frequent Cameron Highlands. launched the 7 Wonders Of Copthorne, a refreshingly new activity for guests to enjoy when they visit.
Cameron Highlands in Pahang, is a well known hill retreat that many foreign and local travellers visit. It is one of my go to places in Malaysia when I need to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city living. Like many local travellers, I do visit Cameron Highlands a few times a year just for the cool refreshing air, fresh vegetables, and to relax. The itinerary is usually the same; eat, visit the market, and relax. What else is new to do?
Picturesque hillside farmland of Cameron Highlands.
[ As long as one does not have to race against time, and take an easy, no rush, relaxing stroll; one will find this trail to be a nice and easy one. ]
Copthorne Cameron Highlands launched the 7 Wonders Of Copthorne, a scenic trail through some of the attractions in Cameron Highlands. 7 Wonders Of Copthorne is made up of must visit places listed below:
- Kea Farm Market
A few minutes’ walk from Copthorne Cameron Highlands is the Kea Farm Market. Kea Farm Market is a market that sells various fresh produces from farms in Cameron Highlands. Most visitors to Cameron Highlands will stop here to satisfy their need for fresh vegetables, fruits, titbits, and souvenirs. There are food outlets that sells western food, local food, etc.
Address: PT2138, A, Jalan Kea Farm, 39100 Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.
Google Maps to Kea Farm Market.
A vegetable shop at the Kea Farm Market.
- Cactus Point
Further down the road is Cactus Point; a place where fans of cactus plants must visit. It is at the centre of Cactus Point where cactus fans will go gaga as it is there that various cactus plants are on display. Other than cactuses there are flowers, strawberries, etc. They are for sale including miniature cacti.
Address: Brinchang, 39000 Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.
Google Maps to Cactus Point.
A flowering cactus at Cactus Point.
- S’corner Central Market
What a name. S’corner Central Market got its name from the S shaped sloppy road on which it sits beside. This market is a strawberry and mushroom farm where visitors can pick strawberries and view mushrooms. Apart from these, the market has a variety of items for sale such as souvenirs, food stuffs, etc.
Address: Strawberry Point, Brinchang, 39000 Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.
Google Maps to S’Corner Central Market.
Letf: S’Corner Central Market. Right: Strawberries on sale at the shops in the market.
- Fragrance Nursery
Fragrance Nursery is a wholesaler and supplier of potted plants that are grown in Cameron Highlands. These colourful and beautiful plants include lavender, rosemary, orchids, chrysanthemums, and roses; a haven for plant and flower lovers. Should one be interested in landscaping one’s garden, Fragrance Nursery offers landscape designing services too.
Address: Bt 41, Jalan Kea Farm, Brinchang, 39100 Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.
E-mail: fragrancec@hotmail.com
Website: https://fragrance.cameron.com.my
Google Maps to Fragrance Nursery.
Beautiful flowers are a plenty.
- Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm
Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm is an apiary where bees call home. This apiary is an ideal place for bees to pollinate plants and store honey. Boxes are put in place for bees to create hives and store honey collected from around the area. Apart from taking care of the welfare of these bees, the owners have to also protect them from predators such as hornets, spiders, lizards, etc. There are over a million bees that call the apiary home.
Other than the apiary there is a shopping gallery, maze, market that sells souvenirs, honey products, skin care products (honey related), vegetables, etc.
Address: 75, Batu 43, Green Cow, 39100 Kea Farm Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia.
email: info@eefenggu.com
Website: http://www.eefenggu.com
Google Maps to Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm.
Little boxes that are home to bees at the Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm.
- Boh Tea Centre Sungai Palas
Another well known product of Cameron Highlands is tea. Boh tea is well known around the world, and one can visit their plantations here in Cameron Highlands. The Boh Tea Centre in Sungai Palas had a gallery where visitors can learn about tea, and a show factory for visitors to learn how tea is processed.
Visitors can also take a stroll along the tea plants, and enjoy Boh tea, scones, cakes, etc. at the cafe. Here (at the cafe) the view of the tea fields across the valley and slopes is mesmerizing. Many selfie addicts find it hard to resist taking a shot here.
Sungei Palas Garden
39100 Brinchang Cameron Highlands
email: info@boh.com.my
Google Maps to Boh Tea Centre Sungai Palas.
A lovely place to relax and enjoy a cup of tea at the Boh Tea Centre Sungai Palas.
- Mossy Forest
Near the tallest peak in Cameron Highlands, the Mossy Forest is a lovely place to visit. This natural forest gets plenty of moisture from low level clouds that blankets it making it a perfect environment for moss to thrive, creating a unique natural wonderland. Apart from moss, the Mossy Forest is home to ferns, lichens, and orchids.
Google Maps to Mossy Forest.
Inside the Mossy Forest. Moss grow on trees all over the forest.
Taking A Leisure Walk On A Scenic Trail
During my stay at Copthorne Cameron Highlands I went for a walk with a group on a scenic trail (one of the 7 Wonders of Copthorne. Starting at the hotel, the route took us to Kea Farm Market where we took a look at some of the local produce. We then walk though the Kea Farm giving us a scenic view of the farm consisting various vegetables such as cabbages, watercress, a kind of gourd, etc. as well as strawberries; Cameron Highlands most famous berries.
7 Wonders Of Copthorne-map.
The different layers of green creates a lovely vista that relaxes the eyes. Apart from the greenery, I was on the lookout for birds and insects. While I did not see birds that are highland specific, I did see the usual birds such as sparrows, swallows, and mynas. The difference is that they are fatter here. This is because of the cold weather. To keep warm these birds fluff up their feathers, making them look fatter.
Strawberries at the Kea Farm Market.
During the Movement Control Order (MCO), I stayed home and worked from home. I did not travel and also did not get the exercise that I usually get when I travel (plenty of walking). This trail is quite an easy walk but with some challenging sections (walking down and up steep slopes). As long as one does not have to race against time, and take an easy, no rush, relaxing stroll; one will find this trail to be a nice and easy one. I found it an easy trail despite having to do it with a heavy load (camera, a bunch of lenses, and other equipment).
A fat Javan Myna perched on a tree fern.
Recommendations
Should you decide to walk this trail, here are some things that I recommend:
- Wear rubber shoes (rubber tapper shoes). I have found these cheap shoes to be the best shoes for hiking, river trekking, etc. They grip well. Here in Malaysia we call them Adidas Kampung (translates to village Adidas).
- Wear clothing based on the weather. The weather in Cameron Highlands can be warm to cold. If it is cooling, you can make do with shots and t-shirt. Walking will warm you up. If it is cold, put on clothes that will keep you warm. Tracksuits are good. If it’s warm, thin cotton t-shirt and short pants will be best.
- Bring a camera. Well, most phones have decent cameras that take good landscape photos and, to a certain extent, reasonably good macro shots. But if you bring you DSLR with a good macro lens, your will be having ball on this trail.
- Drinking water is important. This is especially true during hot weather. You must rehydrate. The trail may be an easy one but you will still get your workout done.
- A small first aid kit (just in case).
For further information, do contact Copthorne Cameron Highlands.
Address: Kea Farm, Brinchang, Malaysia 39100
Email: cameron@millenniumhotels.com
Google Maps to Copthorne Cameron Highlands.
