Éowyn Challenge Pathway Mileage and
Descriptions
THE ROAD HOME: Rivendell to Bag End (397
miles)
by
Karen Wynn Fonstad
Author of The Atlas of
Middle-earth
|
________Total Cumulative Miles (incl. Bonus miles)
for your Personal Journey
thus far:
|
Cumulative
Miles
for Leg
|
Miles
from
last
Mile-
Post
|
Location/description at the
Milepost.
|
October 5 – Day 77: 7 miles
|
1228
|
0
|
Leave the Last Homely House – mid-morning. Cold.
|
1229
|
1
|
Climb out of the valley of Rivendell. Ride slowly.
|
1235
|
6
|
Camp northeast of the Ford of Bruinen.
|
October 6 – Day 78: 10 miles
|
1235
|
0
|
Continue slowly.
|
1236
|
1
|
Reach the Ford. Frodo hesitates to cross. He is in pain:
anniversary of his
wounding on Weathertop. Continue across the Ford.
|
1237
|
1
|
Road climbs through a cutting of red stone topped with tall
pines.
|
1240
|
3
|
Road continues gently uphill. Much grass on sides. Hills on
the north.
|
1245
|
5
|
Camp south side of road.
|
October 7 – Day 79: 10 miles
|
1245
|
0
|
Continue west-southwest along road, riding slowly. Frodo still
ill.
|
1247
|
2
|
Cross a small stream. Road bends more SW, skirting the feet of
the
Trollshaws. The steep ravine of the Bruinen also runs WSW not far S.
|
1250
|
3
|
Eat. Frodo begins to feel better.
|
1255
|
5
|
Camp near a valley from the north.
|
October 8 – Day 80: 10 miles
|
1255
|
0
|
Leave after a leisurely breakfast.
|
1257
|
2
|
Bruinen turns more to the south.
|
1260
|
3
|
Eat. Rest. Can see ruins on hilltop to the north.
|
1265
|
5
|
Camp near a valley from the north.
|
October 9 – Day 81: 10 miles
|
1265
|
0
|
Road now runs due west.
|
1270
|
5
|
Eat below out-thrust ‘toe’ of a hill.
|
1275
|
5
|
Camp. Wander in autumn woods which run into the valley on the
north.
|
October 10 – Day 82: 10 miles
|
1275
|
0
|
Continue west on road through woods.
|
1277
|
2
|
Leave woods.
|
1280
|
3
|
Eat.
|
1285
|
5
|
Camp. Still warm.
|
October 11 – Day 83: 1 miles
|
1285
|
0
|
Road now turns northwest. Still skirts hills.
|
1286
|
1
|
Reach pathway to Stone Trolls. Sam tells Frodo what happened
there.
|
7 Bonus Miles
|
Ride north up the pathway to see the Stone Trolls. Camp there.
|
October 12 – Day 84: 9 miles
|
7 Bonus Miles
|
Return to the road.
|
1286
|
0
|
Eat. Continue northwest on the road.
|
1290
|
4
|
Road climbs over an out-thrust hill from north. Hills now also
south of road
with valleys running SW to Hoarwell.
|
1293
|
3
|
Reach hillcrest. Can see Hoarwell below.
|
1295
|
2
|
Ruins on hilltop north of road. Camp in a SW-running valley.
|
October 13 – Day 85: 10 miles
|
1295
|
0
|
Road rounds ‘toe’ of a hill from the north: the end of the
Trollshaws.
|
1299
|
4
|
Pass point where Strider led them north from road (exactly 1
year ago).
|
1300
|
1
|
Cross The Last Bridge.
Road now turns more to the west. Eat.
|
1302
|
2
|
Reach northeast end of valley which they had followed from
Weathertop.
They pass by and continue WNW on the road into the Lone-lands.
|
1305
|
3
|
Weather still fair. Camp.
|
October 14 – Day 86: 15 miles
|
1305
|
0
|
Road swings northwest through open country. South of the road
are bushes
and stunted trees: wild and pathless. Ride now more quickly.
|
1320
|
15
|
Camp.
|
October 15 – Day 87: 15 miles
|
1320
|
0
|
Road curves more to west. Open country. No streams
|
1335
|
15
|
Camp..
|
October 16 – Day 88: 15 miles
|
1335
|
0
|
Continue west. Far ahead begin to see tops of the Weather
Hills.
|
1350
|
15
|
Camp.
|
October 17 – Day 89: 15 miles
|
1350
|
0
|
Continue west on road.
|
1357
|
7
|
Weather hills slowly rise on the horizon.
|
1365
|
8
|
Camp.
|
October 18 – Day 90: 15 miles
|
1365
|
0
|
Continue west.
|
1370
|
5
|
Road turns slightly to the south. Hills now are more prominent.
|
1380
|
10
|
Camp.
|
October 19 – Day 91: 15 miles
|
1380
|
0
|
Road now runs southwest. Weathertop becomes visible straight
ahead.
|
1395
|
15
|
Camp. Weather still is warm and clear.
|
October 20 – Day 92: 15 miles
|
1395
|
0
|
Road continues southwest. Land rises slowly toward Hills.
|
1410
|
15
|
Camp. Weathertop lies just south of due west.
|
October 21 – Day 93: 20 miles
|
1410
|
0
|
Hurry along the road.
|
1415
|
5
|
Pass the first foothills below Weathertop.
|
1420
|
5
|
Road reaches southeastern foot of Weathertop. Eat in haste.
|
1425
|
5
|
Weathertop immediately
north of road. Frodo refuses to look at it. As the
shadows lengthen, they continue hurriedly past.
|
1430
|
5
|
Camp. Weather turns damp and cold.
|
October 22 – Day 94: 15 miles
|
1430
|
0
|
Road continues south to swing south of the Midgewater Marshes.
|
1435
|
5
|
Weather turns wet and cold.
|
1440
|
5
|
Land now slopes slowly downhill, away from Weathertop.
|
1445
|
5
|
Camp. Damp and cold.
|
October 23 – Day 95: 15 miles
|
1445
|
0
|
Road continues southwest and slowly downhill.
|
1460
|
15
|
Reach the southeast edge of the Midgewater Marshes.
|
October 24 – Day 96: 16 miles
|
1460
|
0
|
Road curves west around southern edge of the Marshes.
|
1470
|
10
|
Drizzly all day. Ride a bit more quickly.
|
1476
|
6
|
Camp due south of the Marshes.
|
October 25 – Day 97: 16 miles
|
1476
|
0
|
Road curves slightly north of west. Marshes fill all the
northern horizon.
|
1492
|
16
|
Camp. Marshes farther north from the road.
|
October 26 – Day 98: 16 miles
|
1492
|
0
|
Road continues west-northwest.
|
1500
|
8
|
Can see western edge of the Marshes through the misty rain.
|
1508
|
8
|
Still drizzly. Camp.
|
October 27 – Day 99: 16 miles
|
1508
|
0
|
Road continues west-northwest. Rises slightly uphill.
|
1514
|
6
|
Begin to see the Chetwood in distance ahead. Dark through the
rain.
|
1518
|
4
|
Rain becomes heavy. West wind. Reach the south edge of the
Chetwood.
Trees nearly barren.
|
1524
|
6
|
Camp in stables of The Forsaken Inn: inn now closed.
Rains all night.
Note: Bilbo stayed at the
inn nearly 80 years before.
|
October 28 – Day 100: 16 miles
|
1524
|
0
|
Continue NW toward Bree. Bree-hill is hidden in the “curtain
of rain.”
|
1529
|
5
|
Continue uphill along road next to the heart of the Chetwood.
|
1534
|
5
|
Pass spot where Strider had led them north from the road.
|
1539
|
5
|
Reach the South-gate of Bree: Locked. Have to call many times.
|
1540
|
1
|
Bree – Arrive at The
Prancing Pony. Talk with Butterbur. Sam learns ‘Bill
the Pony’ has returned. Stay at the Inn.
|
October 29 – Day 101 Spend
the day at The Prancing Pony in Bree
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October 30 – Day 102: 40 miles
|
1540
|
0
|
Leave Bree very early. Still raining. Bree-folk see them off.
|
1544
|
4
|
Gandalf turns south to visit Tom Bombadil. Ride on as fast as
possible.
Note: This is at the same
place Tom had brought the hobbits back to the Road.
|
1556
|
12
|
The Old Forest begins to the south, but is hidden in the rain.
|
1564
|
8
|
Hobbits continue on at a fast pace. Forest is now quite close,
but still hidden
in the rain.
|
1570
|
6
|
Sunset makes the ride even darker.
|
1580
|
10
|
Reach the Brandywine Bridge
late in the evening. Gates bar the way.
When refused entry, Merry and Pippin climb the gate. Confront Bill
Ferny.
Spend the night in the Bridge-house with Shirriffs.
|
November 1 – Day 103: 22 miles
|
1580
|
0
|
Decide to go straight to Hobbiton. Go west on the Road. Grey,
but calm.
|
1590
|
10
|
See smoke rising several places, especially in Woody End to
the south.
|
1602
|
12
|
Frogmorton: Shirriffs ‘arrest’ Frodo and friends. Stay at
Shirriff-house.
|
November 2 – Day 104: 18 miles
|
1602
|
0
|
10:00 a.m. Leave for Bywater. Merry makes Shirriffs march in
front.
|
1608
|
6
|
Noon. Rest.
|
1616
|
8
|
Three-Farthing Stone (ca. 3 p.m.). Frodo and friends leave
Shirriffs behind.
|
1618
|
2
|
Turn NW on Bywater Road. High banks with hedges rise on each
side.
|
1620
|
2
|
Reach Bywater in late
afternoon. All houses shut. Meet ruffians at west end
of town. When confronted by Merry, Pippin and Sam, ruffians run. Merry
blows the horn of Rohan, rallies hobbits. Pippin heads to Tookland to
gather
support. Merry sets trap: first Battle of Bywater. Frodo, Sam and Merry
spend night with Farmer Cotton.
|
November 3 – Day 105: 5 miles
|
Bonus Miles
|
28 miles – Ride with Pippin to/from Tookland.
2 miles – Ride with Merry, Sam and Frodo to/from Bywater to
battle.
Second Battle of Bywater
– on road south of town.
|
1620
|
0
|
Eat late lunch at Cottons, then leave for Hobbiton.
|
1622
|
2
|
Go west along Hobbiton Road. All trees felled along the road.
|
1624+
.5
|
2.5
|
Reach bridge. Turn north across the Water. Much destroyed in
Hobbiton.
Can see the Hill ahead. Party Tree has been cut down.
|
1625
|
0.5
|
Reach Bag End with a
large party of hobbits. Frodo confronts Saruman.
Wormtongue slays Saruman, and is killed by hobbits.
End of the War of the Ring.
|
________Total Cumulative Miles (incl. Bonus miles)
for your Personal Journey
thus far:
+397 Miles = The Road Home:
Rivendell to Bag End
+________ = Bonus Miles for
this leg of the Journey
_________ = Your personal
Journey thus far
|