Tulloch Castle, Dingwall, Scotland - 4 *

Written by Debs

We love The Traitors... but Tulloch Castle was no Claudia Winkleman experience 

We're huge fans of The Traitors — the tension, the drama, the iconic Scottish backdrop. So, for our 19th wedding anniversary, we thought: what better way to celebrate than with a castle getaway worthy of a cloak-and-dagger twist?

Cue Tulloch Castle in the Highlands — brooding towers, stone walls, ancestral portraits... and an undeniable air of mystery. It looked perfect.

But while the setting had promise, the experience didn't quite meet the high bar set by our expectations (or Claudia Winkleman's glorious velvet suits). 

🏰 The Good: The Bones Are There

Tulloch Castle does have history — lots of it. Ancient staircases, suits of armor, and a few ghost stories thrown in for good measure. If you squinted and ignored the details, you could just about imagine yourself plotting who to banish at the round table 

😬 The Not-So-Good: The Reality Behind the Romance

Unfortunately, romance and reality didn't quite align:

• Our room felt more tired than historic. Our four-poster bed was missing its side panels and drapes — only the curtain hooks remained, hinting at what should have been there.
• Some "original features" would benefit from a deep clean rather than just being framed as character.
• The food was… let's just say, not quite traitor-level treachery, but certainly not feast-worthy. The evening meal on a half board basis at £300 per night was limited and not great, it was rather salty, maybe to encourage you to drink more. The Sri Lankan couple who worked behind the bar and in the restaurant were amazing, we could not fault them, alas the chap with two toned hair colour behind reception was a lot more to be desired.

And while the staff were friendly, the overall atmosphere felt more faded than fabulous, the public areas just appeared dead and soul less.

Room, view and dining

Our room: We had booked what was advertised as the top four-poster room; however, based on the condition and presentation, we are not confident that this was the highest standard accommodation available. The four-poster bed was incomplete, with the curtains missing, and the room was uncomfortably warm due to the heating being on continuously. Overall, the room appeared dated and in need of refurbishment.

Our view: The view from our room was idyllic and truly picturesque, and it was arguably the most memorable and positive aspect of our stay.

Dining: As previously noted, the dining options at Tulloch Castle were limited for guests on a dinner, bed, and breakfast package, and the food was noticeably over-seasoned, which did not meet our expectations. Additionally, we were not informed in advance that certain menu items would incur supplementary charges.