The Traitors is finally back and we're buzzing for another season of deceit, drama and inevitable betrayals. With a cast of 22 new faces for The Traitors season 2 and Claudia Winkleman returning as the show's host, the next few weeks promise to be intense as contestants battle it out to be in with a chance of winning the prize money of up to £120,000.
If you've watched the show before you'll know that the psychological games and missions unfold in a suitably dramatic castle set in the Scottish Highlands. But exactly where is The Traitors filmed in Scotland? We explain everything we know about The Traitors castle and vitally, whether or not you can stay there for yourself.
Where is The Traitors filmed?
Much of The Traitors is filmed in and around a castle in Scotland, with contestants participating in roundtable eliminations, challenges and breakfast reveals on the estate.
Filming takes place north of Inverness across several locations though predominantly in Ardross Castle. The stunning estate features over 100 acres of sprawling parkland, much of which was shown through series one.
The Traitors super fans might have spotted that the iconic castle is also the setting for the US instalment of the series, hosted by Alan Cumming and featuring a lineup of celebrity contestants, with the next season set to feature Love Island's Ekin-Su.
Can you stay at The Traitors castle?
While fans aren't able to rent individual rooms or visit the castle on a tour, the property does double up as a wedding venue and is available for corporate and private events.
A statement on the venue's site explains that Ardross Castle “is available for exclusive use hire for both corporate and private clients. The Castle is not a hotel and we do not let individual rooms but can accommodate small groups.”
They add that anyone wanting to book the estate can contact the business directly through their site but clarify that "The castle and estate are privately owned and therefore there is no facility for tour parties or individual visits."
Ardross Castle's history
Stay with us on this, because Ardross Castle has a long and rich history, with it having seen several different residents over the years. The 1st Duke of Sutherland bought Ardross in the late 1700s before the 2nd Duke sold the estate on to Sir Andrew Matheson in 1845.
Matheson was the founder of tea and opium traders Matheson & Co., with him developing the property in the hopes of bringing in tenants to agricultural tenancies.
The late architect Alexander Ross was later commissioned to redesign the castle in the Scots Baronial style, incorporating the earlier mansion and adding 30 further rooms.
After Matheson's death, his son sold the estate to successful businessman C. W. Dyson Perrins whose family spent several months each year at Ardross. Dyson Perrins continued modernisation efforts as well as installing electricity and purchasing further land in Glencalvie and Diebidale.
Eventually the estate was divided and sold in 1937, with the Mardon family purchasing the castle, Lealty Farm and over 80 acres, living there until 1983 when the estate was sold.
That takes us to 1983, when the McTaggart family acquired the estate and began works to restore the garden, with the castle itself and estate properties having been extensively renovated over the years.
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