About Tartan Traveler
My Path to Tartan Traveler
Tartan Traveler began with a simple idea in 2008: to make Scotland’s rich clan heritage accessible, engaging, and practical for modern travelers. What started as a passion for history, tartans, and storytelling soon grew into an idea for a series of immersive guidebooks that blend genealogy, folklore, and cultural exploration with real-world travel tips. The first guide, focused on my own family, Clan MacLachlan, set the tone—combining historical depth with directions to castles, burial sites, and local festivals that bring clan stories to life. From there, the vision expanded into a series that not only helps heritage travelers trace their roots but also invites anyone curious about Scotland to experience its landscapes, traditions, and living culture in a meaningful way.
Where History Meets Travel
My love of history began when I was young and has only deepened over the years, shaping how I see the world and inspiring a lifelong curiosity. Surrounded by shelves of well-loved books, I’ve always been drawn to stories that connect people to their roots. My time with American Airlines sparked another passion—travel—and opened the door to exploring those stories in the landscapes where they were first lived. Tartan Traveler is where these two loves meet: a journey through Scotland’s clans, castles, and culture, told with the eye of a historian and the heart of a traveler.
Travel Your Way
I created Tartan Traveler with every kind of traveler in mind. If you love to plan every detail, our guides and website will help you focus your itinerary and uncover the best of Scotland’s clan country. If you’d rather just go with the flow, we’ve already done the research so you can relax and enjoy the journey. Use the website to prepare before you go—whether that’s finding places to stay, checking out events, or exploring Scottish goods. Then take the guides with you to make the most of your time in Scotland, weaving history and heritage into your travels. And remember, what’s in the guides is just the beginning—there’s always more to discover once you’re there.
Tartan Traveler Library
Explore Scotland through books
The Tartan Traveler Library is our curated collection of of travel guides, Scottish history, and clan heritage titles. The Library is crucial for the creation of the Tartan Traveler guides. If you're interested in doing some of your own research, check out our list of books. From practical travel handbooks to in-depth studies of Scotland’s clans and tartans, each book offers unique insights into the heart of Scottish culture. The collection continues to grow. Explore our library to find the perfect companion for your adventure through Scotland’s past and present.
Clan & Tartan Books (genealogy, clan histories, tartans, heraldry)
- Clans and Families of Scotland by Alexander Fulton
- Gathering the Clans - Tracing Scottish Ancestry on the Internet by Alan Stewart
- Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia by George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire
- The Complete Guide to Heraldry by A.C. Fox-Davies
- The Highland Clans of Scotland by George Eyre-Todd
- The Surnames of Scotland by George F Black
- Tracing Your Scottish Ancestors by National Records of Scotland
Scottish History (general history, wars, kings & queens, medieval, modern)
- A History Of Scotland by Neil Oliver
- How the Scots Invented the Modern World by Arthur Herman
- Scotland: The Story of a Nation by Magnus Magnusson
- Tales and Traditions of Scottish Castles by Nigel Tranter
- The Scotch Irish by James G. Leyburn
- The Scottish Highlanders by Charles MacKinnon of Dunakin
Scottish Travel Guides (general Scotland guides, hiking, outdoor, city-specific)
- Adventure Guide to Scotland by Martin Li
- An Innocent in Scotland by David W. McFadden
- Castles of Scotland by Martin Coventry
- Rick Steves Scotland by Rick Steves
- Scotland - The Rough Guide by Alastair Hamilton, Rob Humphreys, Catherine Logie, Sophie Pragnell, Donald Reid and Julian Ward
- Spectacular Scotland by James Gracie
- The AA 100 Best Walks in Scotland by Kate Barrett, Rebecca Ford, Ronald Turnbull, Hugh Taylor and Moira McCrossan
- The Hidden Places of Scotland by James Gracie
- The Literary Traveller in Scotland by Allan Foster
- The pip travel photography guide to Scotland by Photographers' Institute Press
- The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations by Tony Reeves
Scottish Culture & Traditions (festivals, food, whisky, folklore, music)
- A Feast of Scotland by Janet Warren
- Classic Recipes from Scotland by Tom Bridge
- Fishing The Scottish Islands by Roderick Wilkinson
- Getting Married in Scotland by Iona McGregor
- How to celebrate Burns Night by Daniel Bee
- Rivers and Lochs of Scotland: The Angler's Complete Guide by Bruce Sandison and Michael Wigan
- Scotland - An Intimate Portrait by Geddes MacGregor
- Scottish Customs by Sheila Livingstone
- Scottish Tartan Weddings by Eric Merrill Budd
- The Folk Tales of Scotland: The Well at the World's End and Other Stories by Norah Montgomerie (Author, Illustrator), William Montgomerie (Author
- Whisky Map of Scotland by Collins Maps
- Whiskypedia: A Compendium of Scotch Whisky by Charles MacLean
- 1000 Churches to Visit in Scotland by Scotland's Churches Scheme
Literary Scotland (Scottish authors, poetry, classics)
- A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and The Journal of a Tour To the Hebrides by Samuel Johnson and James Boswell
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
- Ivanhoe (Penguin Classics) by Sir Walter Scott
- Rob Roy (Penguin Classics) Paperback by Sir Walter Scott
- The Complete Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns
- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Waverley (Penguin Classics) by Sir Walter Scott