The Scottish Highlands have long had a loyal following; the British royal family makes no secret of how much they love Balmoral in Aberdeenshire, while history claims American Founding Father Benjamin Franklin was drawn to Scotland, and Queen Victoria felt a profound “reverence” for the landscape. For the younger crowd, however, it’s not necessarily the Highlands’ rugged ruralness, country pursuits and culture that has sparked interest but a certain cape-clad game show: The Traitors. 

Set to return with a roster of celebrities – think Stephen Fry, Charlotte Church, Tom Daley and Clare Balding – on 8 October 2025, Traitors fans will once again be treated to picturesque views of the Scottish Highlands and, of course, Ardross Castle. Having created the perfect whimsical playground for the BBC show, this 19^th-century baronial castle located 30 miles north of Inverness has significantly boosted Scottish tourism in something that has been dubbed ‘The Traitors effect’. Following the series’ debut, there was reportedly a surge of interest in the Highlands, with Trainline reporting a 69 per cent increase in bookings to Inverness and beyond. 

Loch Torridon

Fancy your own Traitors-inspired escape? We’ve rounded up the most beautiful landscapes and the best hotels in the Scottish Highlands to book now. 

The Torridon, Loch Torridon

The Torridon

The Torridon, set within 58 acres of breathtaking Scottish parkland, promises an enchanting escape. Originally a hunting lodge built by the first Earl of Lovelace, and completed in 1887, The Torridon is a fine example of the type of Scottish holiday home the English nobility enjoyed after Queen Victoria made the Highlands fashionable again. The main red stone Victorian lodge houses 18 rooms and suites overlooking Loch Torridon, while an additional 12 can be found in the Stables, and the Boathouse offers a private waterside retreat on the loch’s shores. 

A haven where guests can unwind beside crackling log fires, savour a classic whisky from the 350-bottle collection at the bar, and admire the fairytale-like turrets, The Torridon is also centred around Scottish provenance. Pick from the three AA Rosette 1887 Restaurant, inspired by the wild Highlands, and the Bo & Muc Brasserie, which taps into the Scottish larder via the on-site kitchen garden, boasting an array of native flowers and heritage fruit trees while Highland cattle, chickens, and Tamworth pigs are raised on the property. Get outside to enjoy walking tours of the lochs and glens, clay pigeon shooting, gorge scrambling and archery. 

From £375 per night. 

The Fife Arms, Braemar

The Prince Albert Suite

Deep in the Cairngorms National Park is the charming village of Braemar: the Aberdeenshire town famous for the annual Braemar Gathering (the most famous Highland Games in Scotland). Its most famous hotel is undoubtedly The Fife Arms, which reopened in 2018 under the artistic direction of Hauser and Wirth gallerists Iwan and Manuela Wirth, transforming the 19^th century coaching inn into a heritage-rich escape blending art, history, and nature for modern, well-heeled travellers. 

Housing 46 bedrooms and suites, a restaurant overlooking the rushing River Clunie, spa and much-loved village bar, the real talking point here is the 14,000 artworks that have been thoughtfully integrated into every room, corridor and corner, with large-scale site-specific commissions by internationally-renowned artists – Zhang Enli, Guillermo Kuitca, Subodh Gupta, and Bharti Kher among them. Its secluded location, surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Cairngorms, also provides unparalleled views of the region’s pristine night skies where lucky stargazers can often catch glimpses of the Northern Lights. It doesn’t get more magical than this. 

From £500 per night. 

Newhall Mains, Ross Shire

Escape to the Black Isle – a Gaelic term for the peninsula spanning Moray Firth, Cromarty and the Beauly Firth inspired by its famous fertile, dark soil – for crisp air and candlelit suppers at Newhall Mains. Complete with cottages, a bespoke outdoor sauna and its own airfield, what once operated as a rural farm has been thoughtfully renovated without losing its heritage, nodding to its gothic past while adding touches of tartan across its nine rooms – five of which are found in its cottages. Its in-house restaurant makes the most of fresh seafood sourced directly from nearby shores, forming plates of Loch Broom oysters, Shetland mussels with Peterhead cod, and Cromarty Firth lobster ravioli. 

Newhall Mains is a popular choice for those looking to island hop to Skye, and private plane transfers can be organised via the hotel’s airfield. There’s no spa but a Japanese sauna and in-room treatment menu are on offer – perfect when you’ve spent the day exploring the rural Black Isle’s lochs and bens. 

From £300 per night. 

Dornoch Station, Dornoch

An old-world hotel situated in the historic seaside town of Sutherland, Dornoch Station is an hour's drive from Inverness and provides a welcome pit stop on Scotland's popular North Coast 500 driving route. The 89-key hotel channels both sides of the Scottish Highlands rural landscape, with interiors blending hunting lodge chic – wood panelling, stag heads, whimsical wallpapers and Royal Dornoch Golf Club tartan – and seaside touches reflecting its beachfront location on Dornoch Firth. Think shell-shaped lighting installations and wood-carved lighthouse-shaped tables peppered throughout the rooms. 

Spend days exploring the area’s magnificent beaches, rugged coastline, acclaimed distilleries and historic castles, or teeing off at the on-site greens of Tain, Golspie or Brora. Enjoy a hearty meal at The Golden Gorse restaurant, which offers seasonal, all-day dining with views over Royal Dornoch Links, while Bar Ross provides classic cocktails and a wide selection of whiskies, wines, and beers alongside Scottish bar snacks, both celebrating local heritage and ingredients. A bonnie time is guaranteed. 

From £179 per night. 

Kinloch Lodge, Sutherland

Kinloch Lodge is located near Tongue in a special and secluded spot beneath the ancient peaks of Ben Loyal. Once the shooting lodge of the Dukes of Sutherland, Kinloch retains much of its vernacular charm, simply reimagined to become the most welcoming home for those eager for earthy exploration. Seven rooms rendered in a soothing, natural palette can comfortably house 12 guests, while the in-house restaurant sources ingredients directly from Sutherland, which is bordered by oceans, lochs, forest and farmland.

Kinloch’s raison d'être is encouraging relaxing country pursuits and, with plenty of mountainous hikes, cold water swims, and forests, rivers, lochs and mountains primed for exploration on its doorstep, you definitely won’t get bored. Book a guided tour of nearby sights at reception, and don’t forget to make the most of the hot sauna yurt, yoga sessions and massage treatments upon your return. Kinloch doesn’t take online bookings because every stay is designed to be different, so just enquire to receive a follow-up call from the team, who can curate all manner of transformative trips to the Scottish Highlands.

POA

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