Fraser’s Hill owes its name to a Scottish trader, Louis James Fraser, who established a tin ore trading station in the forested mountains between the Selangor-Pahang border at the end of the 19th century. Fraser was known to have used a mule train to ascend the hill and trade-in tin ore until the fateful day that he mysteriously disappeared in the dense forested hills. A search was mounted for Fraser but he was never found. However, the potential of the hills as a cool getaway was uncovered. The hills were surveyed and eventually developed into a hill retreat named after the missing Scotsman in 1919. Access to Fraser’s Hill is only possible by road via the ‘Gap’ at the base of the resort. Once you get through the Gap and into Fraser’s Hill, you will feel as though you have gone back in time to a bygone era. Fraser’s Hill is akin to a little Scottish village with granite-coloured, mock-Tudor buildings dotting the landscape. The town is relatively small, with much of the activity centred on a market square dominated by a little clock tower. Most of the town’s amenities are housed in colonial-style buildings.

The Scottish charm has been carefully replicated elsewhere throughout the resort so as to harmonise with the environment.

From Ye Olde Smokehouse’s country home ambience to the many Tudor-style public rest houses and privately owned bungalows, right up to the Paddock housing the resort’s horses and the myriad flower gardens, the colonial influence is evident everywhere. To support the many conservation efforts being carried out in this naturalists’ paradise, the Fraser’s Hill Nature Education Centre (FHNEC) was set up in 1997. Sitting smack in the centre of town, it should be the first stop for those looking to learn more about the resort and its abundant flora and fauna. To maintain the relatively unspoiled beauty, FHNEC and various other parties are undertaking conservation efforts to preserve the eight scenic nature trails in the vicinity. Considered one of Malaysia’s premier locations for bird watching, this hill resort hosts the annual Fraser’s Hill International.

Bird Race. This bird watching competition requires bird watchers to spot as many bird species as possible within the resort’s routes. Information on hundreds of bird species ever recorded in Fraser’s Hill, both local and migratory, can be found at the Bird Interpretive Centre (BIC) at Puncak Inn. Visitors to Fraser’s Hill have an abundance of relaxing activities to indulge in. From a game of golf at the 9-hole Royal Fraser’s Hill Golf Club to fishing and boating at Allan’s Water, from strolls among the many beautiful flower gardens to splashing about in the icy cold Jeriau Waterfalls, there are enough leisurely pursuits to keep you occupied. Accommodation at Fraser’s Hill includes serviced apartments, medium to large bungalows and hotels.