A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland is the travel journal which Dr. Samuel Johnson kept of his vacation to the Scottish highlands with James Boswell. Having only recently left England for the first time, Johnson is an eager if somewhat persnickety traveler. In 1773, he agrees to accompany his friend on the journey which they plan ahead of time. They stay with various gentrymen on their local estates along the way, traveling by carriage first inland, then by horseback through the highlands, and eventually by boat to the various islands in the north.
As a renowned author by this point, Johnson takes some liberties in his writing. He expresses opinion rather than fact-checking, which becomes painfully apparent when several times Johnson's prejudice against the traditions of the Scottish people shine through his descriptions of their language, technology, and culture. He reports what he has heard from already prejudiced sources without bothering to conduct research about the authenticity of what he's heard. He does, however, demonstrate a genuine concern for the locals and the specific challenges of disease and poverty which they face.
In his travels, Johnson is continually astonished by the beauty of the Scottish countryside. He has spent little time outside of the city, so he is refreshed by the experience. Johnson comes to recognize the desirability of pastoral simplicity: fresh food, fresh air, clean clothes, and abundant flora and fauna. Although he sometimes struggles to recognize the benefits of how the rural farmers live compared to city folk, Johnson can always appreciate the beauty of their environment. The trip, in his estimation, does good for his health and mental wellness.
