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Macdonald Hotels Sees A Surge In Traffic As The Traitors Inspires Castle Breaks



Scottish hotels are once again seeing a surge in online interest following the success of the BBC’s The Traitors, with new figures from Macdonald Hotels suggesting viewers are looking to turn their fascination with the show’s grand settings into real-life country house breaks.


The independent hotel group, which was founded in Scotland and now has over 30 properties across the UK, has reported a 42% increase in traffic to its hotel pages since the latest series launched, while its guide to Scotland’s famous castle hotels generated more than 30,000 impressions in less than three days.


Filmed in the Scottish Highlands, The Traitors has brought the country’s dramatic landscapes and historic architecture to a national audience. Its popularity is helping shine a spotlight on the appeal of grand country houses and historic retreats, where distinctive settings and a sense of history are central to the guest experience.


Among them is Macdonald Pittodrie House which dates back to 1480 and is set within a 2,400-acre estate near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, at the foot of Bennachie. With traditional interiors, antique furnishings, original architectural features and sweeping countryside views, the property offers an atmospheric rural retreat surrounded by the dramatic landscapes of the north-east. The hotel features 27 individually styled bedrooms, a restaurant and a cosy snug bar, providing a peaceful base for exploring Aberdeenshire.


Further south, Macdonald Houstoun House offers another distinctive take on the historic country house stay. This 16th-century tower house sits within 22 acres of woodland and landscaped grounds in West Lothian, just 25 minutes from Edinburgh. It combines antique-filled feature bedrooms and historic character with the Tower Restaurant, a cosy vaulted bar and spa and leisure facilities, making it an appealing retreat within easy reach of the capital and its historic attractions.


For those keen to experience Scotland’s dramatic natural setting for themselves, Macdonald Forest Hills Hotel & Resort offers a different kind of escape.


Nestled beside Loch Ard in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, the four-star Highland-style hotel and resort is surrounded by wooded hills, mountains and spectacular scenery, with views across the loch towards Ben Lomond. Its 55 bedrooms and self-catering accommodation provide options for a range of stays, while its restaurant, spa and leisure facilities complement the walking routes, cycling trails and outdoor attractions nearby.


Robyn Lee, Head of Marketing at Macdonald Hotels, said:

“The success of The Traitors has captured people’s imaginations, and we’re seeing a real appetite for the kind of atmospheric, character-filled properties that viewers associate with the show."

“Our Traitors castle guide attracted more than 30,000 impressions in less than three days, and we’ve seen a 42% increase in traffic to our hotel pages since the series launched. It’s clear that people are interested in experiencing a little of that castle-inspired escapism for themselves."


“Scotland has an incredible range of historic hotels, and spectacular landscapes, and we’re excited to help guests discover their own version of that experience.”


To explore Scottish stays and plan a break visit here.



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Geospatial data and managed services provider ODCGIS has launched an analysis data package to help the UK’s property professionals manage housing and land assets.


Asset, sustainability, environmental and risk managers, plus surveyors, developers and landowners, are among those set to benefit from ODCGIS Property Insights.


The Bampton, Oxfordshire, firm has built the system in partnership with industry experts in property and land data, designing it as a single combined and analysed output readily accessible through spreadsheet or GIS data formats.


ODCGIS Property Insights combines the most accurate and up-to-date national base datasets with ODCGIS analytics.


The aim is to equip users, who need no GIS knowledge or skills, with a simple way to analyse the condition and spatial context of assets, make decisions on repairs, maintenance and investments, assess flood, subsidence, radon and other insurance risks and optimise contractor management.


Craig Godwin, ODCGIS Managing Director, said:


“By its very nature the land and property market is a key area of data activity. However, sourcing the most appropriate data is no longer the main issue for most users. The challenge is how to analyse it effectively - in other words, how to turn data into useful intelligence. That’s exactly what ODCGIS Property Insights enables."


“By hosting, processing and contextualising essential datasets and combining them with analysis through ODCGIS Property Insights, we can help customers embed location intelligence in their business information."

“This means they can make more informed and operationally sound decisions on all kinds of property-related costs, investment potential, risk management and strategic planning. ODCGIS Property Insights is for any professional involved in property management.”

Users can:

  • fill data gaps with Ordnance Survey NGD data such as building heights, number of floors, construction type, build year, roof type, solar presence, basement presence

  • evaluate the risk of flooding with Twinn by Haskoning climate data

  • assess the risk of trees affecting properties with Bluesky National Tree Map data

  • analyse biodiversity, and heat, wildfire and drought risks, with data from Map Impact

  • understand ownership responsibilities through Land Registry ownership data

  • assess radon risk using BGS (British Geological Survey) radon data

  • analyse open data added such as indices of multiple deprivation ranks, boundary information, subsistence risk, coal mining areas, conservation areas, proximity to fire stations and hospitals, gas and water lines


Rick Thompson, Director of Operations at ODCGIS, said:


“We know from years of experience that customers truly value data but, equally, they often need help to unlock it and ensure it is easily accessible. A key consideration in developing and trialling ODCGIS Property Insights was that the solution should be as easy to use as possible by people without prior specialist knowledge of how to source or manipulate digital map data on screen."


“All the data sources and analysis are combined into one output, one product, for the client, so they don’t have to do any legwork. From the user perspective, the granular analysis it enables will help fill gaps in asset management data showing, for example, that a particular property is mid-terrace as opposed to end-terrace."

“The level of detail you can analyse seamlessly is totally scalable, from the outlines of buildings and green spaces to the risk of flood, subsidence or radon, and how EPC ratings will feed into environmental reports.”

ODCGIS Property Insights is the latest enhancement to the ODCGIS solutions portfolio which provides access to digital geographic content through managed services, data capture and provision and GIS consultancy.


Customers, partners, integrators and suppliers use ODCGIS to source mapping, aerial photography, addressing, height data, historical maps and environmental reports.


*ODCGIS Property Insights is a key theme of ODCGIS’s presence at the forthcoming Housing Innovation Show, taking place at the ICC Birmingham on 4 and 5 February 2026. As well as exhibiting the solution on stand 32, ODCGIS Director of Operations Rick Thompson will discuss its benefits for asset management and analysis in a conference presentation.


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