Celebrity Traitors locations: Can you visit Ardross Castle, the railway and Fyrish Monument?

Ardross Castle, the Highland setting of The Celebrity Traitors near Alness, is closed to public visits as the series returns in October 2026. Fans can instead buy tickets to ride the Strathspey Railway, which has appeared in the programme, or walk to Fyrish Monument, another filming location. The three places have different access rules, so a trip to the area does not mean entry to the castle.

The BBC’s updated guide identifies the castle, railway and monument as locations associated with The Traitors. Claudia Winkleman hosts this year’s Celebrity Traitors, whose line-up includes Michael Sheen, Miranda Hart, Ross Kemp and Maya Jama. For visitors, the distinction is straightforward: the castle is private, the railway runs public services, and the monument is reached by a walk.

Can visitors go inside Ardross Castle?

No. Ardross Castle says its castle and estate are private and are not open to the public at any time. It offers neither individual visits nor tours. Its visitor information also says the property is not a hotel, so viewers cannot book a room there for an overnight stay. Those rules apply even though the building is familiar from UK and US versions of The Traitors.

The castle is about 30 miles north of Inverness, near Alness, and stands in roughly 100 acres of gardens and parkland, according to the BBC. The location may be recognisable on screen, but the estate’s own access policy is the relevant guide for anyone considering a visit. Its contact page says it has no availability for 2026 or 2027.

The building predates the television franchise by more than a century. The BBC reports that construction began in 1847 after Sir Alexander Matheson bought the estate, with about 400 workers involved according to the Ross and Cromarty Heritage Society. The McTaggart family bought the castle in 1983 and still owns it, the BBC says. Those details help explain the historic setting viewers see, but do not change its private status.

How can you ride the Strathspey Railway?

The Strathspey Railway is a public heritage railway. Its 10-mile route runs from Aviemore to Broomhill through Boat of Garten, according to the BBC, which says the line has featured in contestants’ journeys and tasks. A passenger ticket provides a way to experience the railway; it is not a booking for a Traitors production activity or for access to Ardross Castle.

The railway publishes a 2026 timetable and says tickets can be bought online or at the Aviemore station ticket office. It says online bookings close at 9am, while same-day tickets are available at the station. Travellers should check the service for their chosen date: the railway says advertised trains are normally steam hauled but it may use diesel power instead.

Where is Fyrish Monument, and how do you reach it?

Fyrish Monument stands on Cnoc Fyrish above the Cromarty Firth. The BBC describes it as a folly and says a walk to the site takes about two to three hours. It reports that the monument appeared in a task in a previous series of The Traitors. Unlike the castle, this is a location visitors can reach on foot, subject to the conditions and access rules applying when they go.

Novar Estate identifies the starting point as the Fyrish Monument car park on Boath Road, off the B1796. Its route description says the monument becomes visible roughly a third of a mile ahead after walkers reach open moorland. The BBC’s two-to-three-hour figure is approximate; the recorded information does not establish current path or car-park conditions or whether the walk suits a particular visitor’s accessibility needs.

Historic Environment Scotland says a monument’s scheduled status does not itself grant extra public access rights. Scotland’s Outdoor Access Code governs responsible access, which can also be subject to restrictions. Visitors planning the walk should check current local conditions and respect any restrictions they encounter. For the castle and railway, the operators’ published visitor and timetable information gives the clearest starting point for planning.