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Places in Middle-earth

Stonewain Valley Road, The

Type: Roads, Lanes, Ways

Region: Gondor

Location: Anórien

Description: Stonewain Valley was the path taken by the Rohirrim so they could avoid the traps laid for them by the orcs when they rode in haste to the aid of Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring. It was shown to them by the Wild Men of the hills. It was an old, forgotten road of Gondor which had been used by masons and quarriers.



“He will lead you by road where no pits are, no gorgûn walk, only Wild Men and beasts. Many paths were made when Stonehouse-folk were stronger. They carved hills as hunters carve beast-flesh. Wild Men think they ate stone for food. They went through Drúadan to Rimmon with great wains. They go no longer. Road is forgotten, but not by Wild Men. Over hill and behind hill it lies still under grass and tree, there behind Rimmon and down to Dîn, and back at the end to Horse-men’s road.”

The Ride of the Rohirrim, pg. 125, The Return of the King


“‘Way is wide for four horses in Stonewain Valley yonder,’ he waved his hand southwards; ‘but narrow at beginning and at end. Wild Man could walk from here to Dîn between sunrise and noon.’”

The Ride of the Rohirrim, pg. 126, The Return of the King


“It was late in the afternoon when the leaders came to wide grey thickets stretching beyond the eastward side of Amon Dîn, and masking a great gap in the line of hills that from Nardol to Dîn ran east and west. Through the gap the forgotten wain-road long ago had run down, back into the main horse-way from the City through Anórien; but now for many lives of men trees had had their way with it, and it had vanished, broken and buried under the leaves of uncounted years. But the thickets offered to the Riders their last hope of cover before they went into open battle; for beyond them lay the road and the plains of Anduin, while east and southwards the slopes were bare and rocky, as the writhen hills gathered themselves together and climbed up, bastion upon bastion, into the great mass and shoulders of Mindolluin. The leading company was halted, and as those behind filed up out of the trough of the Stonewain Valley they spread out and passed to camping-places under the grey trees.”

The Ride of the Rohirrim, pg. 127, The Return of the King

Contributors: Still Anonymous, 03/10/04; added "Road": Elena Tiriel 3Oct04

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