Image: Ardross Castle in Ross-shire.
Now on its third series, stand-out favourite gameshow The Traitors - based on Dutch series De Verraders - has up to £120,000 offered as a prize. The catch? Three 'traitors' in the group are scheming to sabotage the efforts of the 'faithful', aiming to steal all the money for themselves at the end.
Navigating daily tasks to win money and the chance to be shielded from the traitors' nightly murders, alongside increasing distrust of one another, the 22 contestants are gradually whittled down by voting players off at the Round Table. Cue the arguments.
Whether you're cheering for the scarily effective backstabbers (series two winner, Harry, we're looking at you), the clueless traitors like season three's Linda, or the in-fighting faithful who continuously vote out the wrong people, visiting the show's stunning filming locations might be on your radar.
Where Is The Traitors Filmed?
Boat of Garten railway station
Episode one of each series wouldn't be complete without a tense train ride. Meeting the contestants - from army personnel disguising themselves as beauticians to people pretending to be Welsh and fully ordained Anglican priests - introduces you to the season's must-watch characters. The location for this? Boat of Garten railway station in the north-west reaches of Cairngorms National Park, Scotland.
Loch Glass
A jeep ride away from the main Traitors filming location, Loch Glass is the site where water-based challenges take place across a Scottish Highlands backdrop.
Ardross Castle
Both the US and UK series of The Traitors are filmed at Ardross Castle. 30 miles north of Inverness, this 19th century castle, set in 100 acres of parkland on the banks of the River Alness, offers a grand backdrop to the show - making up the main place that contestants eat, socialise and scheme.
Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Euan Cherry.
What's The History Of Ardross Castle?
The land upon which Ardross Castle sits was once owned by the 1st Duke of Sutherland, George Granville Leveson-Gower (nicknamed, The Manny), in the late 1700s and home to his hunting lodge. Though his son, the 2nd Duke, sold the estate to Sir Alexander Matheson in 1845, which is where the castle's real story begins.
Having made his fortune through the opium trade in China and investing in the Highlands' railways, Sir Alexander built the 19th century castle in Scottish Baronial style, creating the iconic turret-covered and battlement-like look we see today. He employed the help of architect Alexander Ross with the redesign and addition of 30 rooms to the earlier mansion, as well as Irish immigrant workers who named the surrounding village 'Dublin'.
Subsequent owners of the estate include Charles William Dyson Perrins, whose grandfather was one half of the duo behind Worcestershire Sauce. The family enjoyed lavish house parties, hunting, fishing, and a new formal garden designed by landscape gardener Edward White.
Who Owns The Traitors Castle Now?
If you're wondering who owns Ardross Castle nowadays, then the McTaggart family would be your answer. They acquired the estate in 1983 and have since extensively renovated the main building and surrounding properties in the distinct, eclectic style we see on TV.
The manicured gardens have also been restored, as well as trees planted and the woodland areas extended.
How Much Is The Traitors Castle Worth?
Sir Alexander Matheson's £90,000 purchase price is thought to be worth somewhere in the region of £14m today, while others have estimated value of the estate at £16.7m.
Can You Visit The Traitors Castle?
Technically, yes; but it's not fully open to the public. When The Traitors isn't being filmed, Ardross Castle is a corporate hire space and wedding venue, with overnight stays for up to 41 guests available, as well as outdoor adventure activities and bespoke wedding packages starting in excess of £40,000.
When Will The Traitors Next Air?
After the season 3 finale on Friday 24th January 2025, it's set to return for a fourth series and a celebrity special at a future date.
If The Traitors UK castle location is a bit of a trek for you, check out these places to watch the Traitors season finale in London.
