The Traitors may be a game of suspicion, but it has also made a persuasive case for a Scottish castle break. At Ardross Castle, the setting for the popular TV series, turrets rise above the trees, and Highland hills stretch out beyond the gardens. Inside, grand rooms provide the backdrop for uneasy breakfasts, private conversations and the round-table debates that bring each day’s suspicions to a head. It is hard to imagine the programme anywhere else.
Beyond the intrigue, it is the thought of being somewhere like Ardross that remains: waking to a view of the hills, taking the long way back through the grounds and finding the fire lit when you come in from the cold. Imagine a few days of castle life, with days spent on the water, in the mountains or among the estate gardens. Here are six of The Luxury Editor’s favourite places to stay for a Traitors-inspired break.
Aldourie Castle, Loch Ness
If your ideal weekend involves gathering everyone under one roof, Aldourie is the place to be. The castle stands on the southern shore of Loch Ness, close to Inverness, within 500 acres of gardens, woodland and meadows. From its turrets to its great hall and billiards room, it has the scale and privacy that make Ardross so compelling on screen.
Aldourie is available solely for exclusive use, with 12 bedrooms sleeping up to 24 guests and estate cottages available for a larger party.
Take a walk through the walled garden and down towards the loch, head out on a 4×4 excursion, or brave a wild swim before warming up in the sauna yurt hidden among the trees. Meals are prepared by the castle’s own chefs, whether you fancy a grand dinner in the dining room or a more relaxed occasion at the Boathouse, its terrace overlooking Loch Ness providing the perfect place to bring everyone together for a drink as the sun sets.
Prestonfield House, Edinburgh
Prestonfield brings the drama of a grand house stay to the edge of Edinburgh. Set in 20 acres of gardens and parkland beneath Arthur’s Seat, it is close enough to the historic centre to divide a weekend between the city and the estate. Peacocks wandering the grounds add a little theatre of their own.
The house features 23 bedrooms and suites, dressed in rich colours, antique furnishings and lavish fabrics. Its drawing rooms and private dining spaces invite gatherings, while Rhubarb provides a suitably grand setting for dinner. Guests can also enjoy The Whisky Room, where equestrian portraits hang above a collection of more than 350 whiskies. Settle in by the fire for a tasting with Prestonfield’s whisky sommelier or stop by for a dram before dinner.
After a morning walking up Arthur’s Seat or an afternoon spent in Edinburgh’s galleries, return for afternoon tea in the rose-filled gardens. By evening, with the grounds outside and a whisky by the fire, it is easy to forget that the city is only minutes away.
Dalhousie Castle, near Edinburgh
Dalhousie offers the chance to stay within castle walls that have stood for more than 800 years. Located just outside Edinburgh near Bonnyrigg, it is surrounded by 11 acres of parkland. Stone walls, spiral staircases and elegant four-poster beds make the castle’s long history impossible to miss. Later, beneath the vaulted ceiling of the Dungeon Restaurant, an eight-course tasting menu gives everyone time to decide who among them would last longest at the round table.
The castle and its lodge offer 35 bedrooms, perfect for a romantic weekend or a longer stay with friends. Guided by the castle’s falconers, guests can meet its hawks, owls, falcons and eagles in the grounds. An archery session provides an opportunity to channel your inner royal; afterwards, follow the paths through the parkland for a quieter look at the estate.
For anyone drawn to Ardross’s architecture, Dalhousie offers the unique experience of spending a night in Scotland’s oldest inhabited castle.
Glenapp Castle, Ayrshire
Near Ballantrae on the Ayrshire coast, Glenapp rises above gardens and woodland, with views towards Ailsa Craig and the islands beyond. Its period interiors suit a Traitors-inspired stay, but it is the view out to sea that gives Glenapp its unique character.
The castle has 17 bedroom suites, plus four bedrooms in its Penthouse Suite. It sleeps up to 42 guests when hired exclusively and can host larger groups for celebrations.
The Glenapp boat takes guests out towards Ailsa Craig for a closer look at the island visible from the castle. Back on land, private cookery classes offer the chance to prepare a meal alongside the hotel’s chef using produce grown in its grounds.
For an adventure that goes well beyond a castle break, Glenapp’s Hebridean Sea Safari begins with two nights at the castle before guests set off by boat past Ailsa Craig’s seabird-covered cliffs and into the Inner Hebrides. The days might bring seals and dolphins, a deserted beach or a stop at a whisky distillery. By evening, Glenapp’s team has prepared a secluded island camp, where a private chef serves Scottish coastal produce and the fire burns long into the night.
The Torridon, Wester Ross
This Victorian country house stands beside Loch Torridon in Wester Ross, where dark water meets the steep slopes of the Torridon mountains. The main hotel has 18 individually designed bedrooms, and guests can also stay in the Stables or book the private Boathouse for a more secluded visit.
The landscape is difficult to admire for long without wanting to get out to explore. Sea kayaking takes guests onto the loch to search for seals and sea eagles. Guided mountain biking can be tailored to different abilities, from gentler routes to more demanding terrain. Gorge scrambling is a wetter proposition: with a guide, helmet and wetsuit, guests make their way over rocks and through the water beneath the falls.
After a day adventuring, a whisky tasting back at the hotel seems especially well earned. The Highland setting may bring the television show to mind, but the stories at dinner are likely to centre on who was brave enough to get into the gorge.
Fonab Castle, Pitlochry
Fonab Castle stands above Loch Faskally near Pitlochry, in a part of Highland Perthshire well suited to a short escape. Its 42 bedrooms are spread between traditional castle rooms and contemporary lodge accommodation. The contrast gives the property a more modern feel than some of Scotland’s older castles.
A walk can begin almost at the hotel door, following the water towards Pitlochry’s dam and fish ladder or continuing onto woodland trails. There is also an opportunity for a swim or treatment at the Woodland Spa, which includes a 15-metre pool and hot tub, alongside a sauna, steam room and aroma room. Massages and facials use Temple Spa and Ishga products. An afternoon here can disappear quite happily without anyone needing to consult an itinerary.
Perhaps it is the chance to step briefly into another world that makes The Traitors setting so appealing. You could gather family and friends in a castle on Loch Ness, head out to sea from Glenapp or find yourself debating the finer points of a whisky beside Prestonfield’s fire. Wherever the day takes you, there is pleasure in finding everyone back around the table that evening, with new stories to share and no secrets to keep.
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