Can you stay at The Traitors' castle? The truth about Ardross Castle and where the cast really sleep
Jonathan Ross previously spilled the beans…
The Traitors has returned to the gorgeous Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands for 2026, with 22 contestants battling it out for a potential £120,000 in BBC One’s ultimate game of deception.
But while the series has once again been filmed at the breathtaking castle, 30 minutes north of Inverness, the reality of where the players actually sleep is far less luxurious than the show makes it appear.
As the new series gets underway, here’s a closer look at Ardross Castle, its history and its role in The Traitors. As well as that, we also share the truth about the airport hotel where contestants are kept isolated when the cameras stop rolling.
Where is The Traitors’ Ardross Castle?
As with the first three series, The Traitors series 4 is filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. All of the show’s challenges also take place across the castle’s extensive estate.
The castle is located around 30 minutes north of Inverness.
Built in the 19th century, it sits within formal gardens and more than 100 acres of parkland on the banks of the River Alness, providing the dramatic backdrop viewers now associate so closely with the show.
History of the castle
The Ardross estate was originally purchased by the 1st Duke of Sutherland in the late 1700s. He built a hunting lodge on the site. In 1845, the estate was sold to Sir Alexander Matheson for £90,000, a figure equivalent to £13.5 million today.
He hired architect Alexander Ross to redesign the building in the Scots Baronial style. It incorporated the earlier structure and added 30 additional rooms. After changing hands several times, the estate was eventually bought by the McTaggart family in 1983.
Inside, the castle boasts drawing rooms, a bar, a kitchen and a formal dining room, as well as a number of bedrooms. Some contestants’ VTs are filmed here, showcasing rich jewel-toned interiors, four-poster beds and roll-top baths. The grounds are equally striking, complete with the peacocks that have become a familiar sight on the show.
Can you stay at the Traitors Castle?
In addition to serving as the setting for The Traitors, Ardross Castle is used as a wedding venue and for corporate and private events. However, it is not open to the public as a hotel, and visitors cannot book tours of the property.
A statement on the castle’s website explains: ” The Castle is not a hotel and we do not let individual rooms but can accommodate small groups. The castle and estate are privately owned and therefore there is no facility for tour parties or individual visits.”
The castle has also hosted the US version of The Traitors, presented by Alan Cumming, as well as Celebrity Traitors in 2025. But despite the lavish interiors seen on screen, contestants do not stay overnight in the castle’s bedrooms.
Instead, they are housed separately at a hotel near Inverness Airport to preserve the integrity of the game.
Where the cast of The Traitors actually stay
Series 1 winner Hannah previously explained that while the cast spend their days at the castle, they are kept apart when filming ends.
“We don’t sleep in the castle. We slept separately,” she said.
She explained that separation is essential to keeping the game fair. “The thing is, when filming is not happening they still have to keep the game legitimate. So we have to be separate. We can’t be discussing the game or anything. The game still continues even though filming’s not. The game is genuine and carries on.”
Hannah also revealed how strict the isolation is. “We’re not allowed to mix until we can talk on camera. So everything that is on camera is genuine, it’s what happens,” she said.
Alan Cumming has also confirmed the location, saying: “They [the contestants] all stayed in the airport hotel in the Inverness airport. How glamorous – you come to Scotland, and you stay in the Inverness airport hotel.”
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‘A bit claustrophobic’
Contestants stay at the nearby Courtyard by Marriott, a four-star hotel that opened in March 2020 and can cost around £70 a night. Rooms include a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a wardrobe.
Jonathan Ross has previously shared his experience of staying there during filming. “We all stayed in the same hotel, I believe, but I can’t say that for sure because you never saw who was in which room or where. We stayed at the Inverness Airport Hotel, which was lovely. It was fine. You wouldn’t normally stay there for a few nights at a time, I guess.
“All of us found towards the end it was a bit claustrophobic. And there wasn’t a bath in the room so the day after we’d done that first challenge where we had to push that enormous Trojan horse up the hill, we all wanted to soak in a hot bath, especially the older people, and we couldn’t. You were standing in a shower instead.”
Staff at the Marriott did ‘look after’ the cast
Despite the restrictions, Jonathan added that the hotel staff ensured the cast were well cared for. “The food they made for us was very nice there and they looked after us. We were completely isolated from one another, and you don’t even have a phone in the room. When you want to order food or talk to somebody about something, you have to stick a laminate under the door.
“We had TV’s set up. Before they took our phones away, you could put your passwords in for Netflix and Amazon and stuff like that.”
At the end of each day, contestants are driven to the hotel. The next morning, the cars return and transport them all back to Ardross Castle for another day of filming.
Read more: Bookies reveal favourite to win The Traitors 2026 and predicts who’s under the red cloak
