BBC's The Traitors set in magnificent Highland castle where fans can get married

BBC One's latest reality series The Traitors has kicked off and viewers across the country are hooked.

In the show, 22 strangers enter a castle in the Scottish Highlands with the hope of winning up to £120,000 in prize money. However, three of the contestants are secretly 'Traitors' who have the power to eliminate their fellow competitors who are referred to as the 'Faithful'.

The goal of the Traitors is to 'murder' one contestant each night while avoiding detection by the Faithful. Each episode, the Faithful will also choose one contestant that they believe is a Traitor to eliminate.

Presented by Claudia Winkelman, The Traitors is filmed at Ardross Castle in the Highlands, approximately 25 miles north of Inverness.

Although it isn't open to the public, it can now be rented for a range of events, including corporate events and weddings.

The magnificent 19th century castle was built in the Scottish Baronial style. It is found in the centre of stunning formal gardens and includes more than 100 acres of parkland on the banks of the River Alness.

According to the official website, Ardross was purchased by the 1st Duke of Sutherland in the late 1700s, who then sold the estate in 1845 to Alexander Matheson. Matheson, who founded trading house Matheson & Co., bought the property for £90,000.

He then began developing the estate, commissioning architect Alexander Ross to redesign Ardross Castle in the Scots Baronial style, which added approximately 30 rooms.

The Traitors contestants are going head-to-head on the grounds of Ardross Castle (BBC)

Part of the development plans was the addition of 'pleasure grounds' that reportedly extended 700 acres. The walks through these grounds included many fishing spots along the Alness River, as well as scenic views, pools and waterfalls.

Flower gardens were also added to the grounds, as well as shrubberies and broad lawns. An oval pond and a fountain enclosed by iron railings was also constructed.

The Traitors is filmed in the Scottish Highlands (BBC)

At this time, the grounds were open to the public. Following the death of Matheson, his son Kenneth sold the estate in 1898 to businessman C. W. Dyson Perrins, who was a captain in the Highland Light Infantry.

Dyson Perrins made further additions and improvements to the property, including the introduction of electricity. Among the largest changes was the construction of the Formal Garden, which was designed by Edward White.

The garden has undergone extensive renovations over the last century (Julian Paren (cc-by-sa/2.0))

Later, in 1937, the estate was broken up and sold, with Mr and Mrs Austin Mardon purchasing Ardross Castle, Lealty Farm and more than 80 acres of land. They lived at the property until 1983, when it was sold again.

There have also been extensive renovations to the castle and estate over the years.

The new owners, the McTaggart family, began restoring the gardens. Since then, the Formal Garden, Walled Garden, shrubberies and lawns have been rejuvenated and the woodlands have been extended.

While we wait to see who takes home the jackpot on The Traitors, it is fascinating to get a glimpse inside of this one-of-a-kind estate.

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