Bilbo's Journey (There and Back Again)
Bilbo's Journey (There and Back Again) follows 30 mapped waypoints, from Bag End to Bag End.
Travellers across this route: Bilbo Baggins, Thorin and Company, Gandalf.
Follow this journey on the map
Waypoints in order
27 Apr T.A. 2941
Bag End
The morning after the Unexpected Party, Bilbo runs out without a pocket-handkerchief
Place reference: Bag End (location context, not verification of this date).
27 Apr T.A. 2941
The Green Dragon, Bywater
Bilbo joins the dwarves at the inn and they ride east
Approximate map position.
Place reference: The Green Dragon (location context, not verification of this date).
29 Apr T.A. 2941
Brandywine Bridge
Out of the Shire and into the wild lands
Place reference: Brandywine Bridge (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 1 May T.A. 2941
Bree
Past Bree; the Lone-lands begin
Place reference: Bree (location context, not verification of this date).
c. mid-May T.A. 2941
Weathertop (passed)
Dreary hills and ruined castles of the Lone-lands
Approximate map position.
c. 27 May T.A. 2941
Last Bridge
Crossing the Hoarwell in the rain; Gandalf has vanished
Place reference: Last Bridge (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 29 May T.A. 2941
The Trolls' clearing (Trollshaws)
Bilbo tries to pick William's pocket; Gandalf tricks the trolls into stone; the troll-hoard
Approximate map position.
c. 7 Jun – Midsummer T.A. 2941
Rivendell (The Last Homely House)
Elrond reads the moon-letters on Thrór's map; departure on Midsummer morning
Place reference: Rivendell (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 1–3 Jul T.A. 2941
High Pass (thunder-battle)
Stone-giants in the storm; shelter in the goblins' front porch
Place reference: High Pass (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 3–5 Jul T.A. 2941
Goblin-town
Captured by goblins; Gandalf slays the Great Goblin; Bilbo finds the Ring and plays riddles with Gollum
Place reference: Goblin-town (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 6 Jul T.A. 2941
Eagles' Eyrie
Out of the frying-pan: rescued from the Wargs by the Eagles
Approximate map position.
Place reference: Eagles' Eyrie (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 7 Jul T.A. 2941
The Carrock
The Eagles set them down on the great rock in Anduin
Place reference: Carrock (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 7–10 Jul T.A. 2941
Beorn's House
Guests of the skin-changer; ponies lent for the road to the forest
Place reference: Beorn's House (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 14 Jul T.A. 2941
Forest Gate
Gandalf leaves them; the company enters Mirkwood on the Elf-path
Approximate map position.
Place reference: Forest Gate (location context, not verification of this date).
late Jul T.A. 2941
Elf-path, Mirkwood
Days of darkness under the trees; Bombur's night-eyes
Approximate map position.
c. early Aug T.A. 2941
Enchanted River
Bombur falls into the black stream and sleeps for days
Approximate map position.
c. early Sep T.A. 2941
Spiders' glade
Attercop: Bilbo names Sting and frees the dwarves from the spiders; the Wood-elves take the dwarves
Approximate map position.
Place reference: Spiders' Colony (location context, not verification of this date).
c. Sep T.A. 2941
Thranduil's Halls
The dwarves imprisoned; Bilbo lurks invisible in the Elvenking's caves
Place reference: Thranduil's Halls (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 21 Sep T.A. 2941
Forest River (barrels)
Escape in barrels down the Forest River to the Long Lake
Approximate map position.
22 Sep – c. 10 Oct T.A. 2941
Lake-town (Esgaroth)
Welcomed by the Master; Bilbo's birthday; the company is feasted and re-equipped
Place reference: Esgaroth (location context, not verification of this date).
c. 11 Oct T.A. 2941
Long Lake (by boat)
Rowed up the lake to the River Running and the Desolation of Smaug
Approximate map position.
19 Oct T.A. 2941
Erebor (the Lonely Mountain)
Durin's Day: the thrush knocks and the secret door opens; Bilbo steals the cup; Smaug flies to burn Lake-town
Approximate map position.
Place reference: The Secret Door (location context, not verification of this date).
Nov T.A. 2941
Ravenhill
Roäc the raven brings news of Smaug's death; the siege of the Mountain
Place reference: Ravenhill (location context, not verification of this date).
late Nov T.A. 2941
Dale (Battle of Five Armies)
Battle of Five Armies in the last week of autumn; Thorin dies; Dáin becomes King under the Mountain
Approximate map position.
Place reference: Battle of Five Armies (location context, not verification of this date).
Dec T.A. 2941
Northern eaves of Mirkwood
Homeward with Gandalf and Beorn, round the north of the forest
Approximate map position.
Yule T.A. 2941
Beorn's House (Yule)
Midwinter feast at Beorn's hall
Place reference: Beorn's House (location context, not verification of this date).
spring T.A. 2942
High Pass
Back over the Misty Mountains by the High Pass
Place reference: High Pass (location context, not verification of this date).
1 May T.A. 2942
Rivendell
Elrond's house again; a week of rest and tales
Place reference: Rivendell (location context, not verification of this date).
May T.A. 2942
Trollshaws (troll-hoard)
Bilbo and Gandalf dig up the trolls' gold
Place reference: Trollshaws (location context, not verification of this date).
22 Jun T.A. 2942
Bag End
Home to find his goods being auctioned by the Sackville-Bagginses
Place reference: Bag End (location context, not verification of this date).
Sources and further reading
- The Hobbit, An Unexpected Party through The Last Stage
Narrative route; exact daily dates and intermediate locations are not all explicitly established in the book