Where Is 'The Traitors' Filmed?

People are always saying that the setting of a movie or TV show is an "extra character" in the story, but with The Traitors, the castle and grounds really do a lot of the show's heavy lifting. Shot in the northern highlands of Scotland in a 19th century castle, Peacock's reality competition series really takes the gothic and ghostly vibes of an Agatha Christie novel and ramps them up to eleven.

Rather than shooting on a soundstage, almost the entire show is filmed in a single castle and the grounds surrounding it with the contestants roaming the corridors. Like Big Brother, the show relies heavily on mounted cameras that can be controlled from a computer without actual cameramen roaming the house. While many of the challenges are not shot in the castle, many are filmed on the grounds that surround the estate.

Here's everything you need to know about the castle from The Traitors: 

Where is The Traitors filmed?

The Traitors is predominantly filmed at Ardross Castle in northern Scotland, although some of the challenges are filmed at locations in the surrounding countryside. Ardross Castle is situated in the Scottish highlands about 30 minutes north of Inverness, which happens to be the closest major city to the famous Loch Ness.

Related: Six Big Changes Coming to 'The Traitors' for Season 2

How old is The Traitors castle?

Ardross Castle dates back to the 1700s when the 1st Duke of Sutherland bought the vast track of land named Ardross and built a hunting lodge on it. However, the castle wasn't built until the mid-1800s when the estate was sold to Alexander Matheson in 1845. The castle was expanded and built upon, while the grounds were cultivated. Subsequent owners continued building out the castle and grounds until it was broken up in 1937. The McTaggart family bought the estate in 1983 and have been extensively renovating it since.

Related: Meet the Full Cast of 'The Traitors' Season 2

Who lived in The Traitors castle?

Numerous families and individuals have lived in Ardross Castle since the 1700s including several dukes, a merchant banker and a Worchester sauce businessman. Today, it's privately owned but predominantly used as an event space and filming location for The Traitors.

Can you visit The Traitors castle?

Yes and no. While it's not a tourist site that you can just drive up to and visit, Ardross Castle is a wedding venue and can be rented for events. Both parts of the grounds and the castle can be utilized and up to 41 people can spend the night on location. Of course, you won't be able to rent the castle during production for The Traitors though.

Related: Everything to Know About 'The Traitors' Season 3 Including Its Release Date