Ardross Castle, the gothic 19th-century fortress in the Scottish Highlands that serves as the iconic backdrop for BBC's The Traitors, is a private events venue and not a hotel, meaning contestants do not actually sleep there despite the lavish bedrooms shown on screen.
A private venue, not a hotel
The striking castle is set amid around 100 acres of sweeping parkland and enchanting woodland near the town of Alness in northern Scotland. It has been used for all three versions of the show, including The Traitors, The Celebrity Traitors, and the US version.
Ardross Castle is a private events venue, including for weddings, corporate or private gatherings, and TV or film productions. The Ardross Castle website, highlighting its "glorious venue in the Scottish Highlands", firmly states that it "is not a hotel and we do not let individual rooms."
The price to hire the castle for a wedding with up to 130 people and two nights' accommodation starts from £45,000, The Times reported, with the bridal party, wedding ceremony, and wedding breakfast covered by the venue. Due to its popularity, the castle gets booked years in advance.
History of the estate
The estate was purchased by the first Duke of Sutherland in the late 1700s, who initially built a hunting lodge. It was later sold in 1845 for £90,000 to Sir Alexander Matheson, an MP and opium trader.
Matheson hired architect Alexander Ross, who designed the castle in the Gothic Scottish Baronial style and introduced pristine lawns, a pond, and a fountain. A total of 30 rooms were added to the original mansion for £7,000, which have been beautifully maintained as seen on the BBC show.
The castle was subsequently passed between owners during the 19th and 20th centuries, before being broken up and sold in 1937. In 1983, it was purchased by the current owners, the McTaggart family, who further renovated the estate, turning it into a luxurious events venue and a major TV location.
Where contestants actually stay
Although Ardross Castle is used exclusively when filming for The Traitors, the contestants do not actually stay overnight in the castle. Instead, players are individually whisked away in 4x4s and back to their lodgings, reportedly the Courtyard by Marriott hotel near the Inverness Airport.
The practical four-star establishment is located near the airport runway and is roughly 40 minutes from the picturesque castle. The choice of accommodation is understood to be driven by practicality rather than luxury, with insiders revealing the hotel was selected due to its size, being large enough to house both the cast and production crew. Crucially, it also enables the production team to keep contestants separated and supervised while off-camera.
Alan Cumming, host of the US version of The Traitors, previously told The Daily Beast: "They all stayed in the airport hotel in Inverness airport. How glamorous – you come to Scotland, and you stay in the Inverness airport hotel." Meanwhile, TV presenter and former Traitors star Jonathon Ross appeared perfectly content with the hotel during his time on the show that aired in 2025. Beneath a post on the official X account for The Traitors, he wrote: "It's a very nice hotel and the food is good. No complaints." To which The Traitors account replied: "Good to know."
