At last, it is now possible to recreate in its entirety the adventures in 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' from beginning to end and anything in between. Many of these paths are accessible by both foot and horse (or pony). Costumes are, of course, permitted. Each of the labelled points has a specific location to see, but due to a lack of space aren't listed here. However, if anyone's interested, I'll post some information and a picture on whatever location you desire to know more about.
The challenge is on; can any of you retrace the footsteps of your heroes?
-- Edited by James the Just on Tuesday 7th of August 2018 04:24:53 PM
Unfortunately the resolution is low. I suppose the best thing to do is start at Oxford, England, where Hobbiton is, and work your way ahead. For instance, nearby is Bywater, which matches the location of the Wittenham Clumps.
Travelling down the E2 and E11 paths we will eventually come to the Bridge of Mitheithel (Hoarwell), or, as better known; The Last Bridge. This is in the city of Deventer, where, coincidentally, the movie "A Bridge Too Far" was filmed.
Then it's on to Osnabruck, which is near where Imladris, or more commonly known as Rivendell, was. It has nice botanical gardens.
Then we follow the Pied Piper of Hameln to the Goblin-cave, which are now called the Schillat.
We escape at the Goblin-gate at Lippold's Cave after passing through the Sieben Berge or 'Seven Hills', made famous by the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.
Unfortunately the European Union Long Distance Path #11 doesn't quite follow where the adventurers went. It instead goes a bit south by the usual route. Here's the Old Ford in the Oker Valley.
Continuing on the Old Forest Road we might run into Rhosgobel, the home of the Brown Wizard. Perhaps it's by the small town of Radegast, Germany.
And then we can visit Gorzów, Poland. Does anyone know where I can find some barrels?
-- Edited by James the Just on Friday 6th of July 2018 12:13:24 AM
After resting for a couple of weeks we can head north on the Running, I mean Gwda River.
Dale was rebuilt long ago. Look how nice things are now in Pila.
The Lonely Mountain isn't quite what it used to be. But there are still some mysteries. Czarodziejska Górka, near Walcz, was one of the first Polish magic hills discovered when a tourist drinking water accidentally dropped the bottle and noticed that it began to move uphill.
If we continue northeast on the E11 trail we'll come upon the home of the Dwarves in the Iron Hills. Here's Mount Wiezyca, the object of pagan cult of the ancient Slavs.
For the more adventurous we can take the E9 and E6 trails west and climb Mount Gundabad, the capital (at least that's how it's spelled in my edition of TheHobbit) of the Goblins. The 'GM' on the summit stone stands for 'Grey Mountains', I think.
Not too far away is Segeberger Kalkberg Cave, home to 25,000 bats!
In midwinter we can visit Beorn in the Elm Hills.
For those who wish to find out where Gandalf went after leaving the company we can get on the E3 and E8 paths and travel to the Hill of Sorcery; Hesselberg or Bleak Mountain. There are many legends about this haunted place involving spectres and such.
Let us now begin the adventures in The Lord of the Rings. We must start at Oxford, of course, as that is the place Tolkien equated with Hobbiton. He was a student at Exeter College.
He liked to visit the botanical gardens.
The European Union Long Distance Path E2 passes through Oxford (the Thames Path) and coincidentally follows a trail that closely resembles the route Frodo took. If we then get on the London Outer Orbital Path we can rest at Woodhall, I mean Uxbridge.
If we take the conventional route we can get to Stock at Elstree. Sorry, but to take Frodo's shortcut we would have to trespass.
A conspiracy was unmasked at Crickhollow, which is Cockfosters.
Believe it or not, there is a forest in London. In fact, the very first forest ranger was the Duke of Connaught who tended this 'People's Forest.'
I'll bet Bombadil is still around at the end of this Old Forest near Epping.
There are many barrows scattered about England. Here's a great one at Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge.
Eventually we must cross over to the continent. The Great East Road, however, is underwater due to the sea level rising by quite a bit in the last 6,500 years. But we can catch a ferry at Harwich.
It arrives at the Hook of Holland near where Bree once was.
If you get chased out of there you can shelter on the 110 meter high hill of Signaal Imbosch by taking the E11 Long Distance Path.
If they're still chasing you then head for the city of Rheine, Germany.
Osnabrück is nestled in a valley between the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest, similar to Rivendell.
Nearby Kalkriese is where the final battle of the Teutoburg Forest was fought.
Now we must get on the E1, E3, and E8 trails.
Caradhras, or Mount Redhorn, is Kalte Herberge (Cold Hostel). If this is too chilly for you there is may be another way across the mountains.
Khazad-dûm, or the Mines of Moria, can be entered at Steinkaulenberg Gemstone Mine in Idar-Oberstein. They are the only mineral mines in all of Europe open to the public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUGftHq6vBM
Beware that you might have to fight a demon at Durin's Tower on Celebdil (Silvertine), which is Donnersberg, or Thor's Mountain. It has a Celtic hill fort.
If you manage to escape the mines Cerin Amroth, today known as Melibokus, is a nice place to go.
Caras Galadon, or the Tree-city of the Galadhrim, is by Pforzheim an der Enz.
The Enz itself is Celebrant, or Silver Lode.
The Anduin, or The Long River, has long since broken up. But there are still rivers, such as the Adige, that make up for it. We can boat down this or take the E5 path.
The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda, is at the edge of the mountains before a plain. Why, that sounds just like Nen Hithoel, or Misty Lake.
Then it's on the E4 and E2 to get to Edoras, or The Courts, in the Chamonix Valley.
Gandalf flew there once on the back of an eagle. Here's a bird's eye view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3QrhdfLCO8
Then flee to Helm's Deep at the Fort de Dailly, Fortress Saint-Maurice.
If all hope is lost you can hide in Aglarond, or the Glittering Caves, that are now called Grotte aux Fées. They are in the very cliffs of the fortress and have been known about since Roman times. I say others used them before then.
Following the same path will lead us to Isengard, or the Iron Fortress which became Besançon. Is the river a moat?
Orthanc, or the Forked Height, has been replaced by the Citadel of Besançon.
Let's take a rest stop at Dol Baran, or the Golden-brown Hill, by Fort de Joux.
Here, on the last part of our journey, we shall try to bring about The Return of the King. For this we must get on the E1 path.
Much happens in Minas Tirith, or the Tower of the Sun, which Tolkien said was at the same latitude as Florence. However, that city doesn't have much in the way of mountains to the west of it. But Bagno di Romagna does.
After this we hop on the E2 trail and go to Dwimoberg, or the The Haunted Mountain, which is ironically now called Gran Paradiso.
Engaging in a little more mountaineering we can see Grande Casse, which was once known as Starkhorn.
If you ever need help the Prince of Dol Amroth is a Nice guy.
We must now get on the E12 and E1 paths. Futa Pass is in the Stonewain Valley
The Fortress of Montale in San Marino was once a prison.
Escape from there and you could wind up on the Plateau of Gorgorath, Plateau of Terror, in iarija, Istria if you take the E12.
Is Orodruin, the Mountain of Blazing Fire, or Mount Doom, now just Lake Vrana in Cres Island?
Thus came the Fall of Barad-dur, or the Dark Tower, on April 18, 4502 B.C. Nehaj Fortess, Senj looks a lot like the cover art on the early editions of the third book.
The Steward got Emyn Arnen, or the Hill by the River, from the King. Now Monte Fumaiolo, it is the source of the Tiber River.
We must take many paths , like E1, E2, E3, E11, and E12, for many partings. Passing through Dunland we come upon Le Champ du Feu, or the Field of Fire, and meet a disgruntled wizard. He once had a nice tower, like this.
Let's stop at Bree near Monster, Holland. What a name.
After all is done we can carve a poem into a tree on Castle Hill, Wittenham Clumps.
I must now say goodbye and go to the Grey Havens at the Valley of Rocks, Exmoor.
