North-South Road
The North-South Road, also known as the Great Road and Royal Road, was a major road in the Westlands built by the Númenóreans from the Second Age; it linked the northern kingdom of Arnor with the southern kingdom of Gondor.[1][2]
Route
It originally ran from Fornost Erain in the far north, southward for hundreds of leagues through Eriador passing by Bree (where it crossed the East-West Road) and through Andrath between the Barrow-downs and the South Downs and crossed the former Cardolan and Minhiriath.[2] Most of this road had fallen into ruins after the Fall of Fornost and the desolation of Eriador. The patch of the North Road around the Bree-land was known as the Greenway because of its disuse.[1] It then crossed Tharbad on the Gwathló, where it crossed the river to traverse Enedwaith.[2] From then on, the North Road became the Old South Road.[3]
Arching slightly towards the Misty Mountains, it went through the Gap of Rohan (via the Fords of Isen) and then it was known as the Great West Road.[1] After two miles it bent sharply to the south-east to meet the Deeping-road and again bent to the east and Edoras.[4] It passed across Calenardhon/Rohan parallel to the White Mountains and eventually Anorien. It passed near Minas Anor and then passed over Erui at the Crossings of Erui, and reached Pelargir.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, Index
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, "The West of Middle-earth at the End of the Third Age" [map]
- ↑ General Map of Middle-earth
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Battles of the Fords of Isen"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "Map of Rohan, Gondor, and Mordor"