In 17th century Scotland, travel journaling emerged due to growing interest in Scottish landscapes, fueled by the contemporary desire to explore the ‘picturesque.’ During the late 18th and 19th centuries, travel journals became popular throughout the English-speaking world and interest in Scottish tourism grew. Travel journals were considered a reliable, personal account of the author’s journey and were written in the first person, separating them from less intimate travel genres such as guidebooks. 

Travel journals typically served as guides for subsequent tours and established a foundation for mass travel to particular regions. In the early 19th century, prior to the increase of Scottish tourism, much of the country was unknown to foreigners. The portrayal of Scotland’s unique culture in travel journals enchanted eager tourists and motivated them to journey north, cementing the popularity of Scotland as a travel destination. 

Travel journals often varied by style as some journals were published, while others exist as unpublished manuscripts. Journals were recorded by hand during or after a tour, and information was often organized by location or date. In the case of published journals, information was sometimes altered or omitted to mold the narrative into a specific theme. By the mid 19th century, a set of standard topics emerged in travel journaling, such as nature, weather, and culture. The narrative voice was designed for a specific audience and presented an analysis through the lens of contemporary biases. The framed narrative of travel accounts often produced ideals rather than depictions of an authentic Scottish society.