Inverness Traitors Itinerary
The Traitors Locations: A 3-Day Itinerary from The Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
The Traitors has become one of the BBC’s most-watched shows. Moreover, it’s filmed right here in the Scottish Highlands! In fact, the Traitors Castle location, Ardross Castle, sits just 30 minutes north of Inverness. So, the Kingsmills Hotel places you closer to Traitors’ locations than almost anywhere else in Scotland.
This guide covers all the key Traitors filming locations you can explore from your base at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness. It’s structured as a three-day itinerary, with the Kingsmills Hotel as your base each evening. Which, funnily enough, is exactly how the show works. Why? Because the contestants leave Ardross Castle every night and return to a hotel in Inverness.
So, by staying at the Kingsmills Hotel, you’re following in their footsteps. Just with considerably better rooms! Before we kick things off, let’s answer that all-important question…
Where Is The Traitors Castle Located?
The Traitors’ location is Ardross Castle, near the village of Alness in Ross-shire. This is around 25 to 30 miles north of Inverness. It takes approximately 35 minutes by car from the Kingsmills Hotel via the A9. Both the regular series and the Celebrity Traitors UK location are filmed here.
The castle is privately owned and not open to the public, but you can admire the exterior and the surrounding landscape on a scenic drive through the area.
Did you know? The contestants never stay at Ardross Castle during filming. Instead, they’re driven by 4×4 to a hotel near Inverness each evening. Therefore, returning to Kingsmills Hotel at the end of each day is convenient and part of The Traitors’ experience.
The Traitors Itinerary Day 1: The Traitors’ Location and Loch Glass
Start the first day of your Traitors’ Itinerary by heading north from the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, on the A9. This is the same road the production crew and contestants travel each day. The landscape opens up quickly, with the Cromarty Firth appearing to the east and Highland farmland rolling out on either side.
Your first stop is a drive-past of Ardross Castle, the central Traitors location. And although you cannot enter, you can pull over near Alness to take in the turrets and estate woodland. What’s more, on a misty morning, it looks exactly as it does on screen.
From there, continue to Loch Glass, one of the most dramatic Traitors filming locations. This remote loch sits at the foot of Ben Wyvis, near Evanton, and it was used for the Series One finale challenge. This featured a helicopter jump and a speedboat race across the water. Series Four’s floating coffin challenge was also filmed here. The surrounding scenery, still water, open skies, and the bulk of Ben Wyvis are breathtaking. It is well worth the journey on your Traitors’ Locations Itinerary.
Return south through the Black Isle for lunch, then head back into Inverness via the Kessock Bridge for the evening. And at the end of the day, at Kingsmills Hotel’s restaurants, you can choose between the Conservatory and the Inglis. Both serve seasonal menus built around fresh, local Highland produce. On top of this, the contrast between wild loch shores and a warm, candlelit dinner is exactly what a Highland break should feel like.
Day 2: Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, and Boleskine
The morning
On Day Two of your Traitors’ Locations Itinerary, head south from Inverness towards Loch Ness. This is only a 15-minute drive from the Kingsmills Hotel, so you can take your time over breakfast first. Throughout The Traitors, water-based challenges have been a recurring feature, so getting out on the water here is especially fitting.
Take the A82 along the western shore and stop at Urquhart Castle near Drumnadrochit. This ruined 13th-century fortress tumbles dramatically into the loch, and it’s one of the most photographed views in Scotland. Loch Ness cruises also depart from Drumnadrochit regularly. What’s more, high-speed RIB boat trips give you a sense of the water-based challenges you’ve seen on screen. The Kingsmills Hotel team can point you towards local activity providers. And our paddle sports guide lists companies offering canoeing and kayaking near Loch Ness.
After lunch
In the afternoon, follow the B852 along the eastern shore to Boleskine Burial Ground. Graveyard challenges have appeared across several series of The Traitors, and this stop is one of the most on-theme locations in the itinerary. It sits on the wild south shore of Loch Ness and contains graves linked to soldiers from the Battle of Culloden. It’s free to visit and, especially in late afternoon, deeply atmospheric.
When you’re done, return to Inverness and the Kingsmills Hotel via the B862. In the evening, the Kingsclub Spa is open until 6pm if your legs need a rest. Treatments range from hot candle massages to full-day spa packages. Alternatively, head straight to our Whisky Bar. Here, you’ll find of the best-stocked in Inverness, and you can let the day settle over a dram.
Day 3: Culloden Battlefield, Inverness and Fort George
Day Three of your Traitors Locations Itinerary begins ten minutes from the Kingsmills Hotel grounds. We’re talking about Culloden Battlefield, which sits on the moor east of Inverness. This was the site of the final Jacobite battle in 1746. As a result, it’s one of the most moving historical sites in Britain. And while it’s not a Traitors filming location, it shares the show’s themes. Specifically, it’s a landscape defined by trust, betrayal, and hidden loyalties. The National Trust for Scotland visitor centre also offers great context for the battle and its aftermath.
After Culloden, drive east to Fort George along the Moray Firth coast. This is one of the finest 18th-century military fortifications in Europe. Additionally, it houses the Highlanders’ Museum, the largest collection of military artefacts outside Edinburgh. The rampart walls also overlook a stretch of the Moray Firth. This is home to one of the UK’s most accessible bottlenose dolphin populations. Sightings are common year-round. Fort George is approximately 35 minutes from the Kingsmills Hotel via the B9039.
Finally, spend your last afternoon in Inverness itself. Walk from the Kingsmills Hotel along the River Ness to Inverness Cathedral. This connects you directly to The Traitors through Series One’s bell-ringing challenge. Bells ring on Sunday mornings and during Thursday evening practice sessions. Next, continue to Inverness Castle, which recently reopened as a visitor attraction. From the top, you’ll get panoramic views over the city and the surrounding hills.
Finally, return to Kingsmills Hotel for dinner at the Conservatory or Inglis Restaurant. Alternatively, book a treatment at the Kingsclub Spa before you head home. Either way, it is a fitting end to three days of Traitors locations and Highland exploration.
Your Traitors Locations Base: Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
There’s a great symmetry to using the Kingsmills Hotel as your base for your Traitors’ Locations Itinerary. The contestants leave The Traitors’ location, the Scottish castle of Ardross, every single evening. They are then driven back to a hotel near Inverness. So, you’ll be doing exactly the same thing. However, your hotel has welcomed guests since 1785, sits in beautifully landscaped gardens overlooking Inverness Golf Club, and offers a genuine four-star experience.
Our 147 bedrooms also range from characterful Classic 1785 Rooms in the historic main building to the contemporary luxury of the Kingsclub Cocoon and Retreat Rooms. The Kingsclub sits in a private wing, separate from the main hotel. As a result, it feels calm, secluded, and entirely unlike a standard hotel stay. And after a full day at Traitors filming locations across the Highlands, the Kingsclub Spa is exactly what you need. It offers everything from express treatments to full-day spa packages with champagne lunches and body wraps.
The leisure club also includes an indoor pool, jacuzzi, and steam room. Meanwhile, the Kingsmills Hotel dining options include two restaurants, afternoon tea, a whisky bar, and room service. In short, there’s no reason to leave the grounds unless you want to, and plenty of reason to come back each evening.
Ready to explore The Traitors filming locations?
Book your stay at Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness and use it as your Highland base. Check our current offers and packages, or get in touch , and our team will help you plan your itinerary. Book direct for the best rates and free cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Traitors Filming Locations
The Traitors castle location is Ardross Castle, near Alness in Ross-shire. It sits approximately 25 to 30 miles north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The Traitors’ location in Scotland is the same for both the UK and US series.
The celebrity Traitors UK location is the same as the regular series, Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands. The celebrity Traitors location 2025 used the same estate, great hall, and grounds that have featured in every series since 2022. Similarly, the celebrity Traitors castle location is expected to remain at Ardross.
Ardross Castle is a private estate. So, it’s not open to the public as a tourist attraction. However, the location of The Traitors castle can be seen from the surrounding roads. Several other Traitors filming locations, including Loch Ness, Culloden, and Fort George, are fully accessible.
The Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness is the closest four-star hotel to The Traitors’ UK castle location. It places you within 30 to 40 minutes of Ardross Castle. It’s also within easy reach of all the surrounding Traitors filming locations.
