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The Hobbit

There and Back Again

Bilbo Baggins and Thorin’s Company

Bilbo and thirteen Dwarves cross Wilderland to the Lonely Mountain, then come home the long way

Distance
2,460 miles · 3,958 km
days
400
Places
16
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There and Back Again on the map of Middle-earth

Bilbo left Bag End on April 27, TA 2941 and reached the Lonely Mountain that autumn, roughly 900 miles east by road and river, and was home on June 22, TA 2942 after about fourteen months away.

Thorin Oakenshield's company sets out from Hobbiton on April 27, TA 2941 to reclaim Erebor from the dragon Smaug. The route is the classic east road of the old maps: through Bree and the Lone-lands, across the Last Bridge into the Trollshaws, down into Rivendell, over the High Pass, and out into the vale of the Anduin. From there it turns east into Mirkwood, comes out at the Forest River, and reaches Lake-town and the Lonely Mountain beyond.

What makes the journey matter is an accident in the middle of it. Goblins take the company under the High Pass, Bilbo is knocked out and left behind, and in a tunnel below the mountains he picks up a gold ring lying on the stone. He escapes Gollum's riddle game by using it, and neither he nor anyone else understands for another sixty years what he has found. Every later journey on this map begins with that moment.

The outbound road is a chain of rescues: eagles carry the company off the burning pines to the Carrock, Beorn re-equips them, Bilbo cuts them free of the spiders in Mirkwood and later floats them out of Thranduil's cellars in empty barrels. By the time they reach Erebor, Bilbo is the one doing the burgling, and it is his talk with Smaug that gives Bard the bare patch to shoot at.

Smaug dies over the Long Lake, Dale and Lake-town are in ruins, and three armies converge on the treasure before goblins and wargs out of the north force them into alliance. Thorin is killed in the Battle of Five Armies, and Bilbo goes home in spring with two small chests and a ring.

The return is deliberately quiet: Beorn's hall for midwinter, Rivendell again in May, Bree, and Bag End on June 22, TA 2942, where his belongings are being auctioned off.

Frequently asked questions

How long did Bilbo's journey take?

About fourteen months. He left Bag End on April 27, TA 2941 and returned on June 22, TA 2942, including a winter spent with Beorn and in Rivendell on the way back.

What route did Bilbo take to the Lonely Mountain?

East on the Great East Road past Bree, through the Trollshaws to Rivendell, over the High Pass, down to the Carrock and Beorn's Hall, through Mirkwood to Thranduil's Halls, then by river to Lake-town and north to Erebor.

Where did Bilbo find the Ring?

In a tunnel under the Misty Mountains near Goblin-town, after being left behind during the escape from the goblins. He picked it up in the dark, then met Gollum by the underground lake.

Route, stop by stop

  1. 01 · TA 2941, April 27

    Hobbiton

    Bilbo Baggins runs out of Bag End without a pocket handkerchief to catch up with Thorin's company at the Green Dragon in Bywater. He has been hired as a burglar on Gandalf's recommendation.

  2. 02 · TA 2941, early May

    Bree

    The company rides east on the Great East Road through the lands of Men, passing Bree and the last inns. Beyond this point there are no more comfortable beds until Rivendell.

  3. 03 · TA 2941, May

    Trollshaws

    In the wet hill country past the Last Bridge, Bilbo tries to pick a troll's pocket and the whole company is caught. Gandalf keeps the trolls arguing until sunrise turns them to stone, and the party takes Orcrist, Glamdring and Sting from their hoard.

  4. 04 · TA 2941, Midsummer's Eve

    Rivendell

    Elrond reads the moon-letters on Thror's map and reveals the keyhole by the Side-door, which can only be found on Durin's Day. The company rests and is re-provisioned before the mountains.

  5. 05 · TA 2941, late June

    High Pass

    Climbing the pass above Rivendell the company is caught in a thunder-battle between stone-giants and shelters in a cave for the night. The back wall of the cave is a goblin door.

  6. 06 · TA 2941, late June

    Goblin-town

    Goblins drag the Dwarves before the Great Goblin. Gandalf kills him and they flee, but Bilbo is knocked senseless and left behind. Lost in the tunnels he finds a ring, wins the riddle game against Gollum, and slips out invisible.

  7. 07 · TA 2941, late June

    The Carrock

    Wargs and goblins trap the company in pine trees until the Eagles of the Misty Mountains carry them off and set them down on the great rock standing in the Anduin.

  8. 08 · TA 2941, July

    Beorn's Hall

    Gandalf introduces the company to Beorn the skin-changer two at a time so as not to alarm him. Beorn feeds them, confirms the goblins are roused, and lends ponies and supplies for Mirkwood.

  9. 09 · TA 2941, mid-July

    Forest Gate

    The ponies are sent back and Gandalf leaves on business of his own, which turns out to be the White Council's attack on Dol Guldur. The company enters the forest on foot.

  10. 10 · TA 2941, July to August

    Mirkwood

    The black stream, the vanishing elf-feasts and hunger wear the company down. Bilbo climbs a tree, sees only leaves, then kills a giant spider alone, names his sword Sting, and cuts the Dwarves loose.

  11. 11 · TA 2941, August to September

    Thranduil's Halls

    Wood-elves take the Dwarves prisoner and Thranduil demands to know their errand. Bilbo lives invisible in the halls for weeks, then packs the Dwarves into empty wine barrels and floats them down the Forest River.

  12. 12 · TA 2941, autumn

    Lake-town

    Esgaroth on the Long Lake welcomes Thorin as the King under the Mountain returning, and the Master gives them boats, ponies and provisions for the last stage north.

  13. 13 · TA 2941, Durin's Day

    Erebor

    The Side-door opens at the last light of Durin's Day. Bilbo goes down alone, steals a cup, and on a second visit talks with Smaug long enough to spot the bare patch on his left breast, which the thrush carries to Bard.

  14. 14 · TA 2941, November

    Dale

    With Smaug dead over the lake, Bard and Thranduil come to the ruined city to claim a share of the hoard, and Dain Ironfoot marches from the Iron Hills. Goblins and wargs arrive instead, and the Battle of Five Armies is fought in the valley. Thorin is killed, and Fili and Kili with him.

  15. 15 · TA 2942, May 1

    Rivendell

    After a winter in Beorn's hall, Bilbo and Gandalf recross the mountains and rest again in Rivendell. Bilbo hears the tale of the White Council's assault on Dol Guldur and begins the song he will finish decades later.

  16. 16 · TA 2942, June 22

    Hobbiton

    Bilbo reaches Bag End to find himself presumed dead and his effects being auctioned. He buys much of it back, loses his respectability for good, and keeps the ring.