As season two gets underway for both the UK and the US versions, we step inside the 19th-century Scottish castle used as the filming location for the popular show.
11 January 2024
The Traitor’s Scottish filming location, Ardross Castle
The Traitors is back for season 2, and along with a whole new cast of ‘Faithfuls’ and ‘Traitors’, the same grand castle serves as the backdrop for the unfolding drama and deceit. Each episode begins with the cast enjoying breakfast in the grand dining room and concludes with heated round-table discussions in a dark and moody room. But where exactly is it?
Where is ‘The Traitors’ filmed?
The majority of filming for both the UK and US series takes place in and around Ardross Castle in Scotland, located approximately a 30-minute drive north of Inverness. This 19th-century castle sits on over 100 acres of parkland along the banks of the River Alness.
The grand castle boasts a long and rich history of ownership and renovations. Originally, it was purchased by the first Duke of Sutherland in the late 1700s, who built a hunting lodge. In 1845, the second duke sold the estate to British China merchant Sir Alexander Matheson for £90,000. He commissioned architect Alexander Ross to redesign the castle in the Scots Baronial style, adding around 30 rooms and expanding the grounds to 700 acres with the Alness River winding through them.
Following Matheson’s death, his son, Sir Kenneth Matheson, sold the estate to businessman C W Dyson Perrins in 1898. Dyson Perrins spent several months every year at Ardross, hosting house parties that took advantage of the grouse moors, fishing, and deer forests. He continued modernizing the castle, which included installing electricity and acquiring additional land. A notable feature was the Formal Garden, designed by Edward White for the east front, with a perspective by C E Mallows exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1909.
In 1937, the estate was broken up and sold, with the Mardon family purchasing the castle, Lealty Farm, and over 80 acres of land. They resided there until 1983, when the estate was sold again. The McTaggart family acquired it in 1983 and began restoring the gardens, which includes the formal garden, walled garden, shrubberies, and lawns.
Can you stay in Ardross Castle?
Notably, host Alan Cummings revealed that even the cast did not stay in the castle itself; they were housed in a less glamorous hotel near Inverness. Moreover, Ardross Castle is not a conventional hotel, and individual rooms are not available for rent. However, if you wish to hire the venue for weddings or group events, up to 41 guests can utilize the unique overnight accommodation.
Experience the rich history and stunning beauty of Ardross Castle, a filming location that brings not only entertainment but also cultural significance to the forefront.
