Whether you want to stay in splendid isolation or surrounded by five star luxury and endless outdoor activities, let the hit show inspire your next trip to Scotland …
Fairburn Tower, Inverness
This is one of more than 200 properties owned by the building conservation charity The Landmark Trust. The charity’s mission is to save and sensitively restore historic buildings, transforming them into charming holiday lets. Fairburn Tower is part of the 1,000-acre Fairburn Estate and is a rare surviving example of the Scottish Renaissance period. It was built for Murdo Mackenzie, a favourite at the court of King James V and Mary of Guise. Just half an hour’s drive from the actual Traitors property, Ardross Castle, the tower was constructed in the mid-16th century as both a residence and as a defence against any nearby enemies. Guests have access to country sports, from fishing to walking. Woodland near the tower is an example of the alluvial forest system no longer seen much in Europe. Sleeping four, overnight rates are from £26.25stg per person for a minimum stay of four nights; www.landmarktrust.org.uk.
The Torridon Hotel, Inverness
Originally built as a hunting lodge in the 1860s, The Torridon is owned by Dan and Rohaise Rose-Bristow, who have meticulously restored the premises into an elegant boutique hotel with 18 rooms. There are a further twelve in the Stables, alongside The Boathouse for a private getaway. Foodies will enjoy the hotel’s two restaurants, 1887 and Bo & Muc, which champion seasonal produce and traditional Scottish flavours. Outdoor activities include guided tours of lochs and glens, stargazing experiences, clay pigeon shooting, sea kayaking, mountain biking, gorge scrambling and archery. Overnight stays with breakfast from £420stg; www.thetorridon.com.
Royal Marine Hotel Brora, Inverness
Located an hour from Inverness along the North Coast 500 (the Scottish equivalent of the Wild Atlantic Way), this charming Highland hotel is a great base to explore the east coast of Scotland. There’s a beach on the hotel doorstep in addition to an abundance of lochs, historic golf courses and local distilleries. Each of the hotel’s 21 bedrooms is individually decorated in colour schemes that reflect the beauty of the landscape (with Arran Sense of Scotland amenities). Beds are a talking point – a collaboration with the Inverness Highland BlindCraft – handmade, from mattresses to headboards, by skilled craftspeople with a disability. Guests can dine in style in the hotel’s Curing Yard Restaurant, enjoy local malts (from Clynelish Distillery) in the Megan Boyd Bar (named after the famous fishing fly-tyer, noted for her Atlantic salmon flies) or Braid Lounge, with its golfing links. Rooms are from £99 per night on a bed and breakfast basis; www.royalmarinebrora.com.
Glenapp Castle, Relais & Chateaux
Hop on the ferry from Belfast to Stranraer and you’ll be at Glenapp by lunch! This Relais & Chateaux hotel, with its fairytale towers and opulent rooms, sits high above the dramatic coastline of southwest Scotland, overlooking the Irish Sea and the iconic Ailsa Craig Island. The Castle dates back to 1870 and has an interesting history – Sir Winston Churchill discussed D-Day here in 1944. But that doesn’t mean that it’s imposing or stuffy; it has a relaxed vibe and provides scope for bracing walks. For gardenistas, the hotel’s Italian garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll is not to be missed. Also unforgettable is the cuisine, country sports and golf courses in the vicinity. For stargazers, the hotel is also near one of the UK’s Dark Sky Parks, Galloway Forest Park. It’s the perfect retreat for fans of the hit show, immersing visitors in the intrigue and splendour of a bygone era. Overnight stays from £295stg; www.glenappcastle.com.
Rosslyn Castle, Roslin, near Edinburgh
Located eight miles from Edinburgh, Rosslyn Castle was built in circa 1450 and is famed for its historic castle, beautiful chapel and the surrounding valley. The castle is the ancestral home of the St Clair family and still contains many family portraits, photographs and belongings. The property was first restored by The Landmark Trust in 1984, but underwent a further restoration and repair project last year, which provided an additional bedroom and spacious living space. It now sleeps eight (for £30.50stg per person for a four night minimum stay). There is no shortage of walks in the surrounding ancient woodland of Roslin Glen, with a number of footpaths that can lead guests down to the nearby river or to the Rosslyn Chapel at the top of the Glen; www.landmarktrust.org.uk.
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The Fife Arms, Braemar
Nine miles from Balmoral Castle, The Fife Arms is a 90-minute drive from Aberdeen airport. This passion project from international art dealers Hauser & Wirth has a maximalist layering of objets d’art, sumptuous fabrics (from Timorous Beasties and William Morris), antiques and oriental rugs. The hotel houses a library, hotel shop and Albamhor Spa. If you’re outdoorsy, there are boot, drying and gun rooms below stairs with a hotel ghillie on hand to arrange activities. Rooms are like stage sets, themed from Scottish culture and poetry to nature and croft rooms, featuring details such as fine bone china cups and tweed covered hot water bottles. Pack your best evening wear to pose in Elsa’s Bar; named after Elsa Schiaparelli. It’s pink, Art-Deco and a real gem. There’s also the noisier bar The Flying Stag and Bertie’s (named after Edward VII), which has a whiskey collection of some 365 bottles. Double rooms are from £250 including breakfast; www.thefifearms.com.
The Wyndham Duchally Country Estate, Perthshire
Located in Perthshire, near to Gleneagles, in 27 acres of private land, this estate is perfectly secluded, with picturesque scenery creating the perfect country escape. The family-friendly hotel offers accommodation in either the white manor house or its Scottish lodges. Adults can unwind at the hotel’s spa with a sauna, steam room, pool and jacuzzi, while kids will love the outdoor play park. Overnight rates start from £95 for two people sharing, bed and breakfast included; www.wyndhamduchally.com.
Penicuik Estate, Midlothian
Just 30 minutes outside Edinburgh, this rural retreat offers beautifully appointed self-catering (dog-friendly) cottages, designed by Fantoush and inspired by Old Penicuik House. Each cottage comprises a fully-equipped kitchen and dining space, a sitting room with a wood burning stove, ensuite bedroom with a roll-top bath, and outdoor terraces featuring a fireside dining terrace, Big Green Egg barbecue and a secluded cedar hot tub. There’s also a one-bedroom Palladian spa house, Eskfield, which has exclusive access to a walled garden and indulgent sauna. The team can also arrange hand delivered food services, including organic breakfast, barbecue hampers and a private chef. Working up an appetite is not a problem with its 20km walking and cycling trails, or hiking the Pentland hills. A one-bedroom cottage costs from £220stg per night; www.penicuikestate.com
Cameron House, Loch Lomond
The setting of this five-star resort is remarkable, within 400-acres of beautiful Scottish countryside, on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Guests can stay in Cameron House, an historical 17th century Baronial mansion, or in the new Lomond Wing with its family-oriented rooms, many with large balconies overlooking the lochs, glens and mountains. The facilities and long list of activities make this a destination in itself. There’s a cinema, a range of impressive restaurants and bars, a spa and leisure club with rooftop infinity pool, an 18-hole championship golf course and a 234-berth marina. Activities include jet skiing, loch cruises, sea plane trips, falconry experiences, pony treks, clay pigeon shooting, off-road driving adventures, Segway safaris, bike hire and more; www.cameronhouse.co.uk.
Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye
Remote and refined (the nearest airport is Inverness), Kinloch Lodge is a historic, whitewashed hotel overlooking the shore of Loch-Na-Dal at the foot of Kinloch Hill. Foodies will have heard of cook and writer Lady Claire Macdonald (I love her cookery books), who opened the hotel in the 1970s. It is now run by her daughter and has been revamped recently. Rather than an overload of tartan, this hotel features fabrics from Skye Weavers and local craftsmen, giving the impression of a relaxed country home. Delectable food, whisky on tap and endless opportunities for exploring the natural landscape abound. The hotel has its own ghillie who can take guests on foraging, fishing, clay pigeon shooting, otter spotting and hiking expeditions. Head chef Jordan Webb prepares dinner in the evening, plus there’s a spa for soothing any aches and pains. From €450 for an overnight stay; www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk.
Auchinleck House, Ayrshire
The architecture of this impressive 18th-century country house set within its own vast grounds demonstrates the spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment period through its neo-Classical design combined with Baroque features. The house was formerly owned by biographer James Boswell at a time when residents dressed for dinner and retired to the library to watch the sunset, no doubt with a “wee dram”. The spacious dining room adds a touch of elegance to every meal, while the inviting library is a great place to curl up with a good book. The goal of most walks here is to find the property’s ice-house and grotto. Auchinleck can accommodate up to 13 guests, with overnight rates from £19.69 per person per night with a four night minimum stay; www.landmarktrust.org.uk.
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