Where is The Traitors castle?
Can you stay at The Traitors castle, and how much is it worth? Read on to discover everything you need to know about Ardross Castle.
Image: The Traitors is filmed at the iconic Ardross Castle in Scotland | Shutterstock.com
It’s the iconic location for bareface lies, treachery and backstabbing that has become essential viewing for millions of fans across the country. But how much do you really know about Ardross Castle, the setting for the BBC’s smash hit game show, The Traitors?
Just like everyone else, the team at Sky HISTORY can’t get enough of the drama. But there’s one area that we’re particularly interested in – the castle where it all takes place. Whether you’re a new fan or have been watching since series one, read on as we answer all the burning questions you’ve likely been wondering about.
Fascinated by the history of castles? Don’t miss our brand new series, Great British Castle Rescue, coming soon exclusively to Sky HISTORY.
Where is The Traitors castle?
Since the show first launched in 2022, The Traitors has been filmed at Ardross Castle, located 30 miles from Inverness, Scotland.
The Scots Baronial-style building dates back to the late 1800s, originally as a mansion, before being redesigned between 1880 and 1881 by architect Alexander Ross for Sir Alexander Matheson.
The Ardross estate was acquired by Matheson in 1845 for the sum of £90,000 (about £9.26m by today’s standards), who commissioned Ross to construct the castle as it is seen today. Following Matheson’s death in 1886, the castle was purchased by Charles William Dyson Perrins, a partner in the famous Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce company, who modernised it with electricity.
Viewers of the hit show will be familiar with many of the castle’s locations, such as its grand drawing room, which is used as the contestants’ breakfast room. But many of the rooms are never shown – and you might be surprised to learn that it has more than 30!
Can you stay in The Traitors castle?
Been unsuccessful in your application to take part on the show? You’re probably wondering if you can still go and live out your Traitors fantasies and stay at the castle when they’re not filming.
We hate to disappoint you, but sadly, the answer is no.
And it’s not just because a growing part of the year is now taken up filming The Traitors, The Traitors US and Celebrity Traitors. The castle is a private estate, and does not let rooms. As you’ll have seen from the show, not even the contestants stay at the castle – instead they are whisked away to a nearby hotel.
It means that you can’t even visit the castle on a day trip, either. Ardross Castle can be viewed from nearby footpaths, but don’t expect to be welcomed in. As one Redditor reported, security guards stand duty by the gates – but it was unclear whether they were wearing traitor’s robes.
However, if you and your partner are avid fans of the show, there is potentially good news: Ardross Castle does take wedding bookings. But given the popularity of The Traitors, availability is likely extremely limited – and you’re going to need deep pockets, with wedding packages starting around £40,000 to £45,000!
Even for that price, there’s no word on whether you can expect Claudia Winkleman to turn up and decide which of your wedding party are Faithfuls and which are Traitors…
Who owns The Traitors castle today?
The Ardross estate and castle were purchased in 1983 by the McTaggart family, known for their involvement in business, property development, and philanthropy. Notable members of the family include Sir John Mactaggart, 4th Baronet and Fiona Mactaggart, who served as a Labour MP for Slough from 1997 to 2017.
How much is The Traitors castle worth?
Contestants on the show can win up to £120,000 – but that’s nowhere near what you’d need if you wanted to purchase the castle. As you might expect for such an iconic location, it’s worth an eye-watering amount of money.
The Category A-listed structure itself is currently valued at just shy of £3m. And for that price, you’d be able to enjoy a very comfortable 22,000 square feet of space. And it’s likely that the value will only increase further due to its television fame.
However, the entire estate – including many of the locations used for missions – will set you back considerably more. Estimates for the 100-acre estate value it at nearly £17m.
Will The Traitors continue to be filmed at Ardross Castle?
Given that the castle and its stunning Highland location are a key part of the show’s appeal, it seems likely that Ardross will continue to feature on our screens for years to come.
While an Irish version of The Traitors has been filmed at Slane Castle in County Meath, reports indicate that the BBC has reserved Ardross Castle for filming purposes through to 2030.
So, if you’re hoping to one day get to see the castle up close, enjoy a breakfast banquet or sit around the round table, you’ve still got plenty of time to get your applications in!
Ardross Castle has become one of the most famous castles in the country – but there are many more to discover on Sky HISTORY’s series, Great British Castle Rescue. Coming soon to Sky HISTORY, Rick Edwards will take an aerial and up-close view of some of the UK’s most awe-inspiring castles.
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