Almost all writers have some sort of muse. To some it is a special person in their lives, to others an experience they've gone through. To J.R.R Tolkien and countless others - it is a certain place, and that place, in this case, is the beautiful Puzzlewood forest.
J.R.R Tolkien looked at these woods and saw much more than just trees and earth. In his mind, he saw fanstical shapes and great stories of adventure.
Puzzlewood is an ancient forest in the woods of Dean, Gloucestershire, England.
Sometime in the early 19th century, a local and crafy landowner laid down over a
mile of twisting pathways through the ancient tress, around moss covered rock
formations and passing by secret caves. 100 years later the forest was opened to
the public, who enjoy the visit.
Tolkien made many visits to puzzlewood, taking inspiring walks through the
woods. We can only imagine what tales he spun as he walked among the ancient
trees.
“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the
enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of
mind and soul, if we’re partisans of liberty, then it’s our plain duty to
escape, and to take as many people with us as we can! J.R.R Tolkien
“The Hobbits are just rustic English people, made small in size because it
reflects the generally small reach of their imagination,” J.R.R. Tolkien
“Not all those who wander are lost.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
“A single dream is more powerful than a thousand realities.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
“Little by little, one travels far” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
Open-air caves at Puzzlewood forest.
“The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places. But
still there is much that is fair. And though in all lands, love is now mingled
with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the greater,” J.R.R. Tolkien
Puzzlewood has also been the enchanted forest backdrop for filming the fantasy
adventures in Merlin and Dr. Who TV series.
“Courage is found in unlikely places.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien
Part of the special path at Puzzlewood forest.
A
tranquil scene.
This sign marks the entrance to the forest. It used to be a pre-Roman, ancient
iron mine, but treasures found indicate the Romans did indeed occupy this area.
In 1848, visitors moved a block of stone in the woods, and uncovered small
hidden cavity in which there were three earth-ware jars containing over 3,000
3rd century coins, probably someone's savings or treasure.
Many suggest that puzzlewood was the inspiration for the Shire, the place
Tolkien invented as a home for the hobbits. “The wide world is all about you:
you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out,” - J.R.R.
Tolkien
A
hobbit's home in the shire.
A
scene as if taken straight out of a fantasy land.
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