 In 1845 he contributed a series of articles on 'Excursions to Arran' to 'The Christian Treasury,' and in 1847 they appeared in book form as 'Excursions to Arran, Ailsa Craig, and the two Cumbraes,' a second series being published in 1852.On Harvey's recommendation Landsborough was employed to write a popular "History of British Seaweeds", and the work, on its appearance in 1849, was so satisfactory, that he was commissioned to prepare a similar 'Popular History of British Zoophytes or Corallines,' which was published in 1852.In 1849 Landsborough was elected an associate of the Linnean Society, and in the following year he was mainly instrumental in the establishment of the Ayrshire Naturalists' Club.