The Traitors castle is Ardross Castle, a 19th-century Scottish Baronial estate in Ross-shire, roughly 25 to 30 miles north of Inverness. It can be hired, but only on an exclusive-use basis, and never while the cameras are rolling.
With The Celebrity Traitors series 2 starting on BBC One on Thursday 1 October 2026, the same questions are about to flood search engines again. Where is The Traitors filmed? Can you stay at Ardross Castle? Could you hire it for your own round table?
We spend most of our working week talking to owners of castles, manor houses and large country estates, so these questions land in our inbox more often than you might expect. Below you will find the answers, where The Traitors Ireland is filmed, and a shortlist of castles on GroupAccommodation.com that your group can actually book.
The Traitors 2026 and 2027 TV Schedule on BBC One
Two new series are on the way within the next four months, both filmed at Ardross Castle.
The Celebrity Traitors Series 2 Starts on 1 October 2026
The second celebrity series opens at 9.15 pm on BBC One on Thursday 1 October, with Claudia Winkleman back in the cloak. The 21-strong celebrity line-up was announced in May 2026, shortly after filming got under way in the Highlands.
Expectations are high. The finale of the first celebrity series in November 2025 became the most-watched broadcast on UK television that year.
When Does The Traitors Series 5 Start?
The BBC has not yet confirmed a date for the fifth civilian series. Series two, three and four all launched in January, so a January 2027 start on BBC One and iPlayer is the safe bet.
- Applications closed on 31 May 2026
- Filming was scheduled for summer and autumn 2026 at Ardross Castle
- A three-year deal agreed in March 2026 keeps both The Traitors and The Celebrity Traitors in production until 2030
For anyone planning a group get-together around the launch, our guide to bank holidays in 2027 across the UK and Ireland is a useful starting point.
Where Is The Traitors Castle? Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands
Every UK series of The Traitors, and both celebrity series, has been filmed at Ardross Castle. The round table, the breakfast room reveals, and the turret shots all come from this one estate.
Where Is Ardross Castle Located?
Ardross Castle sits in Ross-shire, close to the village of Alness, around 25 to 30 miles north of Inverness. It stands in more than 100 acres of parkland on the banks of the River Alness, with formal Italian gardens and a walled garden.
- Nearest city: Inverness, roughly a 40-minute drive
- Nearest airport: Inverness Airport
- Region: Easter Ross, in the Scottish Highlands
A Short History of Ardross Castle
The estate belonged to the family of the Dukes of Sutherland until 1845, when the 2nd Duke sold it to Sir Alexander Matheson. Matheson went on to reshape the house into the Scottish Baronial castle viewers know today.
The castle is now owned by the McTaggart family. Its centrepiece is the Great Hall, complete with a minstrels’ gallery, which can seat up to 130 guests for dinner.
Is The Traitors US Filmed at Ardross Castle Too?
Yes. The fourth season of the American version, hosted by Alan Cumming, was recorded at Ardross in June 2025 using the same missions as the British series.
BBC Scotland has credited that arrangement with keeping costs manageable. Filming both versions back to back is what made each production viable, according to its own economic impact reporting.
Other Traitors Filming Locations in the Scottish Highlands
The castle is only part of the picture. Several recognisable locations appear across each series:
- Boat of Garten Railway Station in the Cairngorms National Park, where contestants traditionally arrive at the start of a series
- The woodland and estate grounds around Ardross, used for many of the outdoor missions
- Lochs and hillsides near Ben Wyvis, which have featured in water-based and endurance challenges
If those landscapes have you itching to visit, our round-up of 14 of the best group stays in Scotland covers large houses from the Highlands to the Borders.
Can You Stay at The Traitors Castle? Booking Ardross Castle Explained
Technically, yes. Ardross Castle is available for exclusive-use hire by private and corporate clients, and it is a working wedding venue outside filming periods. In practice, it is out of reach for most groups hoping for a Traitors weekend.
Why You Can’t Simply Book a Room at Ardross Castle
Ardross Castle Is Exclusive Use Only
The castle is not a hotel and does not let individual rooms. You hire the parts of the castle and grounds you need, as a single booking, for a private event.
Exclusive-hire weddings include overnight accommodation for up to 41 guests across two nights. Extra nights can sometimes be added at additional cost.
The Castle Comes as a Blank Canvas
Ardross is let largely as it stands. Hirers bring in their own caterer and bar, along with the cooking equipment, tableware and glassware to go with them. That suits a wedding planner with a full supplier list, less so a group of friends after a relaxed long weekend.
Filming Takes Priority for Months at a Time
With the civilian and celebrity series now filmed in quick succession, and the US version also recorded on site, the castle is given over to production for long stretches of spring, summer and autumn. The BBC’s commitment to the format until 2030 means that pattern is unlikely to change soon.
The Cost of Hiring The Traitors Castle
Ardross does not publish prices. Lifestyle title DesignMyNight has reported that bespoke wedding packages start at over £40,000, which puts it firmly in the milestone-event bracket rather than the weekend-away one.
Do The Traitors Contestants Sleep at Ardross Castle?
No. Despite what the edit suggests, contestants are not believed to stay overnight in the castle. Alan Cumming has said the cast of the US version was housed in a hotel near Inverness Airport, and reports suggest the UK production works the same way.
It makes sense. Keeping players off site protects the set, preserves the mystique of each morning’s breakfast arrival and gives the production team full control of the building overnight.
Can You Visit Ardross Castle as a Day Visitor?
Not in the usual sense. Ardross Castle is a private estate with no public opening hours, guided tours or visitor centre. The surrounding Highland scenery is a different matter, and many of the landscapes seen on screen can be enjoyed responsibly from public roads and trails.
Where Is The Traitors Ireland Filmed? Slane Castle in County Meath
The Traitors Ireland is filmed at Slane Castle in County Meath, on the banks of the River Boyne and a little under an hour from Dublin Airport. RTÉ confirmed the location in April 2025 after the first series wrapped.
Both series so far have been made there. The second, hosted again by Siobhán McSweeney, was recorded in spring 2026 and aired on RTÉ One between 30 August and 22 September 2026. The local press reports that a third series is already in development.
Slane Castle History and the Boyne Valley Setting
Slane is a Gothic Revival castle from the late 18th century and the family seat of the Conynghams. It sits within a 1,500-acre estate whose sloping lawns form a natural amphitheatre, which is why it has hosted open-air concerts since 1981.
The Boyne Valley gives the Irish series a distinctly different feel from the Highlands. Missions have made use of the surrounding forest, and the region’s ancient heritage sites are never far away.
Can You Stay at Slane Castle?
Unlike Ardross, yes. Slane Castle offers overnight stays in a small collection of rooms inside the castle itself, including a five-bedroom apartment aimed at groups of six or more. A few points are worth knowing before you enquire:
- Dining is not generally provided, although private dining can sometimes be arranged
- Guided tours of the ground floor may run at weekends
- The estate also hosts weddings for between 15 and 250 guests, plus a whiskey distillery visitor centre
For larger groups, the capacity inside the castle is limited. That is where exclusive-use castles and estates across Ireland come in, including one in the same county, which you will find further down this guide. You can also browse our pick of the 12 best large holiday homes in Ireland.
Traitors-Style Castles to Rent for Groups in Scotland
If Ardross is off the table, the good news is that Scotland has no shortage of castles and grand estates you can book for exclusive use. The properties below all offer the essentials of a Traitors weekend: a dining room that seats everyone, dramatic interiors and grounds large enough for missions. You can browse the full collection of castle accommodation in Scotland on GroupAccommodation.com.
The closest castle experience to Ardross on our site, Achnagairn Castle sits near Kirkhill in Inverness-shire, around 20 minutes from Inverness. It shares the same corner of the Highlands and much of the same atmosphere.
- Sleeps up to 55 in 24 individually designed bedrooms
- Wood-panelled dining room with space for every guest, plus a ballroom
- Cinema room, sweeping staircase and stained glass windows
- 30 acres of gardens and woodland, with Highland Games and archery available on site
Why Achnagairn Works for a Traitors Weekend
A ballroom for the round table, a panelled dining room for the breakfast reveal and a sweeping staircase for a dramatic banishment. For large groups, it is about as close as you can get to the real thing.
For groups who want to be in the same county as Ardross, Pitcalzean House is a Georgian country house near Tain, on the North Coast 500 route.
- Sleeps up to 27 in 10 bedrooms, including a seven-bed dormitory
- Dining for 38, in a room once visited by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1974
- Full-size snooker room, cinema, library and a party barn
- 33 acres of woodland with a zip wire, treehouse and barbecue hut
It is not a castle, but it offers the grandeur, the space and the Easter Ross setting at a more accessible scale. Ceilidhs and a local piper can be arranged for the final night.
On the edge of the Cairngorms National Park, Dalnaglar Castle is a 19th-century castle set within a private 200-acre estate near Blairgowrie in Perthshire.
- The castle sleeps 18 in nine rooms, rising to 38 with four estate cottages
- Every cottage has its own hot tub
- Fully catered stays with a private chef, and dining for up to 40
- A grand drawing room with an open fire, suitable for a ceilidh
Fishing, stalking and walking routes start from the door, and the Glenshee snowsports centre is close by for a winter get-together.
Dating from 1320, Duns Castle has been a family home for 300 years and sits within a 1,200-acre estate in the Scottish Borders, around an hour from Edinburgh.
- The castle sleeps 23, with estate cottages taking the total to 58
- Wood-panelled dining room with a log fire that seats up to 60
- Billiard room, private lake and nature reserve
- Archery, falconry, clay shooting and murder mystery evenings can be arranged by the castle team
Why Duns Castle Works for a Traitors Weekend
The team already runs murder mystery nights and outdoor challenges, so building a Traitors-style game around them is a natural step. It is also far easier to reach from the south than the Highlands.
For smaller groups, Colliston Castle near Arbroath in the Dundee and Angus region is a medieval Scottish castle with plenty of character.
- Sleeps up to 18 in 10 bedrooms
- Hot tub and sauna
- Weekend stays from £3,000
It is one of the more affordable ways to put your group behind genuine castle walls.
Traitors-Style Castles to Rent in England and Ireland
You don’t need to travel to the Highlands for a castle weekend. These exclusive-use castles in England and Ireland are all listed on GroupAccommodation.com, and the full range sits under our castles and chateaux collection.
On the edge of the Eden Valley, Augill Castle is a multi-award-winning castle between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.
- Sleeps up to 30 in 15 en suite bedrooms
- Fully catered exclusive hire, with dining for up to 46 at long oak refectory tables
- A library stocked with games and dressing-up clothes, plus a 12-seat cinema
- 15 acres of grounds with a tennis court and treehouse
- Two-night weekends from £6,240, fully catered
Why Augill Castle Works for a Traitors Weekend
Everyone eats together at the same long table, the kitchen is taken care of and there is a dressing-up box already waiting. It is the easiest castle on this list to turn into a round table.
In the Tyne Valley near Hexham, Beaufront Castle joined GroupAccommodation.com in 2026 and suits groups of up to 16.
- Sleeps up to 16 in eight bedrooms
- Dining hall and breakfast room with tables for every guest
- Grand drawing room with period features and an open fire
- Dog friendly, with weekends from £3,000
For more ideas in the region, see our guide to the best group stays in North East England.
If The Traitors Ireland is more your thing, Ross Castle sits in the same county as Slane, on the shores of Lough Sheelin and around an hour and 15 minutes from Dublin.
- A 15th-century castle with a spiral staircase and a library on the tower’s ground floor
- Sleeps 14 in the castle, or up to 31 with three estate cottages
- A Great Room with vaulted ceilings, lake views and space for the whole group to dine
- Self-catering as standard, with a catered banquet available on request
Fishing on the lough and archery with a local club add a ready-made mission or two.
Set on a wooded private estate in County Limerick, Springfield Castle combines the historic castle with a restored East Tower.
- Sleeps up to 25 in 13 bedrooms
- East Tower dining room seats 25 or more
- Hot tub, sauna, cold plunge pool and tennis court
- A basement bar you stock yourself, plus two games rooms
- Irish musicians, storytellers and falconry displays can be arranged
A storyteller in the medieval tower is about as atmospheric an opening to a Traitors night as you could ask for.
How to Host a Traitors Party Weekend at a Group Holiday House
A Traitors weekend needs three things: a room where everyone can sit around one table, grounds for missions and enough space for secret meetings. Any of the properties above will work well, but so will many large houses and estates.
What to Look for in a Traitors-Style Holiday House
A Dining Room Where Everyone Can Sit Together
The round table is the heart of the game, so a single table seating the whole group is non-negotiable. Look for listings that confirm everyone can dine together, ideally in a panelled dining room or great hall.
Space for Secret Meetings
The Traitors need somewhere to confer out of earshot. Properties split across a main house and cottages, or with a library, turret room or snug away from the main living space, make this far easier.
Grounds Big Enough for Missions
Woodland, lawns and outbuildings turn a house into a playing field. Several of the castles in this guide can also arrange archery, falconry or clay shooting as ready-made missions.
How to Run Your Own Traitors Round Table
- Appoint a host. One person plays Claudia, sets the rules and keeps the prize pot. They do not play.
- Choose your Traitors in secret. Around one Traitor for every six or seven players keeps the game balanced.
- Hand out the roles privately. Envelopes slipped under bedroom doors work well, as does a quiet tap on the shoulder at dinner.
- Hold the nightly murder. Traitors meet after everyone has gone to bed and leave a note for their victim.
- Reveal the victim at breakfast. The last player to arrive at the table is the one who has been murdered.
- Run missions during the day. Each success adds money, or a forfeit, to the pot.
- Hold the round table and banish. Every player votes openly, and the banished player reveals whether they were Faithful or Traitor.
- Play the endgame. When only a handful remain, the survivors decide whether to end the game or banish again.
Traitors Mission Ideas for Group Holidays
- A treasure hunt across the grounds, with clues hidden in outbuildings
- Archery or clay shooting, with points added to the prize pot
- A pub quiz where one wrong answer costs the group money
- A blindfolded obstacle course, guided by a teammate who may or may not be lying
- A shield round, where the winner is safe from murder that night
Who a Traitors Weekend Works For
- Hen, stag and sten parties looking for something more memorable than a bar crawl. Our look at the rise of the sten party explains why mixed groups are booking together
- Milestone birthdays, see our pick of holiday homes ideal for landmark birthday celebrations
- Company offsites, where a game of trust makes for a very different kind of team building. Browse our venues for a team offsite
- Christmas and New Year gatherings, timed around the January launch of the new series. Our group stays for New Year round-up is a good place to start
The Traitors Castle FAQs
The UK version of The Traitors is filmed at Ardross Castle, a 19th-century Scottish Baronial castle. The Celebrity Traitors and the fourth season of the US version were filmed there too.
Ardross Castle is in Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands, near the village of Alness and roughly 25 to 30 miles north of Inverness.
Only by hiring the whole venue. Ardross Castle is exclusive use and does not let individual rooms, and exclusive-hire weddings include accommodation for up to 41 guests for two nights.
Ardross does not publish its prices. Wedding packages have been reported to start at more than £40,000.
No. It is a private estate without public opening hours or tours, although much of the surrounding Highland landscape seen on screen is open to explore.
No. Contestants are understood to stay in a hotel off site, travelling to the castle each morning for filming.
The Traitors Ireland is filmed at Slane Castle in County Meath, on the River Boyne. Both the 2025 and 2026 series were made there.
Yes, in a small number of rooms and a five-bedroom apartment within the castle. It is a family home rather than a hotel, so dining is limited.
The Celebrity Traitors series 2 begins on BBC One at 9.15pm on Thursday 1 October 2026.
The BBC has not confirmed a date, but previous series have launched in January, so January 2027 is expected.
Achnagairn Castle near Inverness sleeps up to 55 and is available for exclusive use. For a Ross-shire base, Pitcalzean House near Tain sleeps up to 27.
Book Your Own Traitors Castle Direct With the Owner
Ardross Castle may be reserved for Claudia, but the round table doesn’t have to be. Every castle and country house in this guide can be booked directly with its owner through GroupAccommodation.com, with no booking fees added on top.
Your enquiry goes straight to the people who know the property best, so you can ask about catering, activities and whether that turret bedroom really is the best spot for a Traitors’ conclave. Start with our full range of castles and chateaux to rent, or search by region across Scotland, England and Ireland.
If you own a castle, manor or large estate and are seeing more Traitors-inspired enquiries, find out how to advertise your property with us and take those bookings direct.
Sources: filming locations, broadcast dates and production details are drawn from the BBC, RTÉ, Ardross Castle, Slane Castle, BBC Countryfile, Country and Town House, Time Out, DesignMyNight, the Meath Chronicle and Capital FM. Property details are taken from listings on GroupAccommodation.com as of September 2026. Prices and availability are set by owners and may change. All information has been summarised in our own words.
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