Stay informed with our newsletter.
.webp){kind=spacer}
EN
J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary world of Middle-earth wasn’t created in isolation; it drew heavily from real landscapes, towns, and cultural settings that shaped his imagination. From the rolling countryside of England to dramatic mountains and ancient forests, many locations mirror the realms of hobbits, elves, and men. Exploring these places offers fans a tangible connection to Tolkien’s universe, blending literature, history, and travel into a journey that brings fantasy vividly to life.
Tolkien may have set his epic tales in the imagined land of Middle-earth, but the breathtaking scenery depicted across his novels, films, and recent TV series feels much closer to our world than one might expect.
The Fellowship of the Ring, the first volume in J.R.R. Tolkien’s celebrated trilogy, was published in the summer of 1954, marking seven decades since its release. More recently, his legendarium reached another milestone with the arrival of the second season of The Rings of Power on 29 August 2024.
As befits a saga hailed as the pinnacle of fantasy, its landscapes stretch from lush, pastoral hillsides to dramatic ravines and arid deserts. Though Middle-earth is fictional, many of these striking backdrops stem from real places, and visiting them allows admirers to connect with both the natural wonders themselves and the fantastical worlds they sparked in Tolkien’s imagination.
During the 1940s, while working on The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien spent time at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire, where his son was employed. He often walked the Ribble Valley’s woodlands and hills, which many believe influenced his depiction of the Shire, homeland of the hobbits.
Since 2002, enthusiasts have been able to follow the Tolkien Trail, a circular route beginning in Hurst Green at the centuries-old Shireburn Arms pub, once a favourite haunt of Tolkien. The gentle seven-mile walk winds through farmland, past Stonyhurst’s stately buildings, and across historic spots such as Cromwell’s Bridge, which dates back to the English Civil War.
Although Tolkien never explicitly identified the trail as an inspiration, strong parallels exist. The route passes Hacking Hall, where a ferry once carried passengers across the Ribble, echoing the Bucklebury Ferry in The Fellowship of the Ring.
Local details further reinforce the connection: the nearby Shireburn family recalls Tolkien’s River Shirebourne, which he placed on his maps beside other rivers arranged much like the Hodder, Ribble, and Calder of Lancashire. Even the Eye of God carving on St Mary’s Church tower in Newchurch-in-Pendle recalls the ominous Eye of Sauron.
Though much of Tolkien’s geographic inspiration is inferred, he directly acknowledged one real location: Cheddar Gorge in Somerset.
Tolkien and his wife Edith honeymooned nearby in 1916 and explored the gorge, a spectacular limestone valley riddled with caves hung with stalactites and stalagmites.
In a letter written in 1971, Tolkien confirmed that the Glittering Caves of Helm’s Deep drew inspiration from Cheddar’s caverns. Visitors to Gough Cave can still spot formations remarkably similar to the fantastical columns described in his writings.
Filmgoers will instantly recognize the dramatic Denize Bluffs on New Zealand’s North Island. This rugged terrain, filled with towering rocks and native bush, appeared as the Trollshaws in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and later as part of the Harfoots’ homeland in The Rings of Power.
Today the property remains a working sheep and cattle farm, run by the Denize family. They now host “Hairy Feet Waitomo” tours that showcase the filming sites while sharing behind-the-scenes stories.
Tolkien’s deep faith infused his work with spiritual undertones, and his time in the Cotswolds may have provided visual inspiration.
St Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold is especially significant. Its north door, framed by ancient yew trees that have grown into the stone, bears a striking resemblance to Tolkien’s illustration of the Doors of Durin, the secret Dwarven entrance to Khazad-dûm.
This uncanny similarity has fueled speculation that the church’s unique doorway helped inspire one of Middle-earth’s most memorable images.
The barren landscapes of Tenerife’s Teide National Park set the scene for parts of The Rings of Power. Its arid expanses, twisted trees, and volcanic backdrop provide the perfect stand-in for Rhûn, a mysterious and corrupted region in Tolkien’s mythology.
Mount Teide itself, an active volcano dormant since 1909, dominates the skyline. Local Guanche traditions once considered it a gateway to the underworld, a belief that aligns with its portrayal as a sinister land onscreen.
Visitors can explore the otherworldly terrain on foot or via cable car, gaining an appreciation of why filmmakers chose it as Middle-earth’s dark frontier.
New Zealand famously became the cinematic home of Middle-earth under director Peter Jackson. Among its most remarkable filming locations is Fiordland, a wilderness of soaring peaks, glaciers, and deep fjords.
The region’s dense forests doubled as Fangorn, where the Ents dwell, while the Waiau River represented Tolkien’s mighty River Anduin. These dramatic backdrops brought authenticity to Jackson’s adaptations.
Travellers can base themselves in Te Anau, a lakeside town offering tours, hikes, and cruises into Fiordland National Park, ensuring visitors experience the same awe that shaped Middle-earth on screen.
For questions or comments write to contactus@bostonbrandmedia.com
Source: BBC
.jpg)
