In Search Of...Hobbit-like walking paths

[elfearz1]

ah well living in the city I dont have much choice, but we do have some parks that I can take a walk in. Well good luck in your endeavor.

[Laitoste]

In Wisconsin, we have 14 state trails (I just learned this yesterday). I'm not sure how many are "hobbity", exactly, as I haven't been on any except on that runs from my town 15 miles to a larger town, mostly in the city. Not exactly hobbity. Anyway, there is a nice walking trail in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan that's by the Menominee River (I think). If you have an odd imagination, it's kind of hobbity, maybe... Thinking back on it, it strikes me as such, but my memory tends to fool me. And maybe the Kettle Moraine area has some. Driving through, it seemed to be a place hobbits would enjoy.

[ninlaith]

I think the Shire parts of Middle-Earth could have been easily shot in PA. Living in a very rural area I know of many places that are very hobbit like. Alot of over grown paths and little rivers and fields everywhere. It wouldn't have been difficult at all really. Just take your pick. However our grass isn't really THAT green, so that wouldn't work. Maybe in some rich soiled areas it would. There's an area near Pittsburgh called Novelt that is VERY Shire like. It has so many foothills and little rivers running everywhere. It's very beautiful.

[Tuor of Gondolin]

"I think the Shire parts of Middle-Earth could have been easily shot in PA."
----------------------

And if you've been along Route 6 in northern Pa. near Wellsboro is "The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania", (Pine Creek Gorge).
Of course, it's thickly forested, but from the west side looking to
the headquarters buildings and lookout veranda it rather
reminds you of Rivendell, especially since it's a little tricky
getting to the park headquarters.

(A few pictures)
http://postcards.route-6.com/tioga.html
http://www.visittiogapa.com/grandcanyon.html

[Lady Gamgee]

Right here on my farm of course Well, it's part farm & part woodland, all 156 acres of it. There are many different paths in the woods and fields that the deer have made ... looks like something right out of a Hobbit's world. It's especially enchanting during a rain storm. Many huge trees, wildflowers, rocks, a couple of caves, etc .... Mountains & hills surround us from every angle, complete with a creek that runs through our backyard, gently rolling over rocks, shaping it's way. It's quite nice here, wouldn't wanna live anywhere else.

Plus we live at the foot of a mountain that is said to have gold buried on it from the civil war times. The Appalacian trail runs through it too ... another old trail that would be wonderful for a scenic view. All of this is here in southern WV.

[Lalwendë]

I've pulled this old thread up because I was just looking at some Alfred Wainwright fellwalking books and they made me think just how 'Hobbity' they are. All 'handwritten' with sketches and fantastic maps drawn by Wainwright himself, together with dry little observations on things you might see on your hikes.

Has anyone else ever been struck by this? You can almost imagine an Alfred Wainwright guide to walking the Ettenmoors or bagging peaks on the Misty Mountains, together with little notes about where to avoid Goblins

Obviously we can't go for any proper walks right now because I don't think a buggy would cope! But as soon as he can walk I'm itching to drag ye childe off to Longshaws - a great 'Hobbity' type walking spot for anyone thinking of visiting the Peak District http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main...ongshawestate/

That's one of our favourites. Plenty of 'triple-trunked' Beeches and a magical moorland stream, plus the jaw dropping view down towards Hathersage, Mam Tor and 'Orthanc'.

This one on Stanage Edge is good too:
http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk...s/walk_a/1090/
You can pretened to be Keira Knightley or just look for snakes. It's a bit like you imagine the walk from Rivendell to have been. Awesome views.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

This one on Stanage Edge is good too:
http://www.walkingbritain.co.uk/walk...s/walk_a/1090/
You can pretened to be Keira Knightley or just look for snakes. It's a bit like you imagine the walk from Rivendell to have been. Awesome views.

I don't know, Lal. I think we all imagine Middle earth based on the land we know and for me those English "peaks" just don't say "Misty Mountains."

I've always imagined Rivendell, hidden as it was in the foothills of the Misty Mountains, to be overhung by the mountain range. Part of its hiddenness lies in its inaccessibility. Tolkien's original postcard of Gandalf, the old man hiking in Swiss mountains, probably has something to do with my non-English sense of Rivendell. (I've always imagined Rivendell having hot springs too, for their healing quality, although I know that "baths" aren't particularly English, except for, of course, Bath, which in my experience of Austen has nothing to do with healing. )

Anyhow, here's a peak at my Rivendell walking terrain (which of course has nothing to do with this thread's topic, Hobbity walks): Kootenay Rookies and this one, as the town of Jasper is huddled at the foot of some very tall peaks: Jasper