Was Tolkien a Hiker? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

kementari · 05-21-2008, 10:43 PM

Tolkien attended Malvern College, West Midlands and wandered (rambled) along to the Worcester beacon in his youth. I was told this from a teacher who worked at a nearby primary school beneath the Malvern Hills. They said he did a lot of hiking in Herefordshire too.

So hmm, I'm not too sure about him being an avid hiker, but this is what an old man said in Colwall village to me last year.

Take it with a pinch of salt

Mithalwen · 05-23-2008, 12:40 PM

I think Carpenter mentions the swiss tour - but I think Tolkien was remarkably untravelled in the physical world - the range of his mind is quite another thing. Apart from the Swiss trip, the ill fated French trip and the war, I think he seldom left England (once he had arrived of course). Of course the world is a smaller place now and travel much swifter and cheaper but even so it is and interesting combination to be such a great linguist and a relative stay-at-home. I know that he went to Italy and liked it very much quite late in his life but I think that was more or less it for foreign travel...and I dont' think he travelled particularly widely in the UK - just the ordinary bucket and spade type trips with the children and family visits.

Morthoron · 05-23-2008, 01:03 PM

He wasn't so much a hiker as an inveterate biker (at least, later in life). He road bikes because he had a distinct aversion to automobiles (part of his technology phobia).

Mithalwen · 05-23-2008, 02:35 PM

He wasn't so much a hiker as an inveterate biker

At the risk of consigning this to mirth..sorry I couldn't resist:http://pics.livejournal.com/mithalwen/pic/00008z59/

Morthoron · 05-23-2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

He wasn't so much a hiker as an inveterate biker

At the risk of consigning this to mirth..sorry I couldn't resist:http://pics.livejournal.com/mithalwen/pic/00008z59/

Hey, isn't that Marlon Brandobuck?

05-21-2008, 10:43 PM	#1
kementari Haunting Spirit Join Date: May 2003 Location: Amongst the Ferns: New Zealand Posts: 56	Malvern College Tolkien attended Malvern College, West Midlands and wandered (rambled) along to the Worcester beacon in his youth. I was told this from a teacher who worked at a nearby primary school beneath the Malvern Hills. They said he did a lot of hiking in Herefordshire too. So hmm, I'm not too sure about him being an avid hiker, but this is what an old man said in Colwall village to me last year. Take it with a pinch of salt __________________ ~ Kementari ~ Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo.

05-23-2008, 12:40 PM	#2
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	I think Carpenter mentions the swiss tour - but I think Tolkien was remarkably untravelled in the physical world - the range of his mind is quite another thing. Apart from the Swiss trip, the ill fated French trip and the war, I think he seldom left England (once he had arrived of course). Of course the world is a smaller place now and travel much swifter and cheaper but even so it is and interesting combination to be such a great linguist and a relative stay-at-home. I know that he went to Italy and liked it very much quite late in his life but I think that was more or less it for foreign travel...and I dont' think he travelled particularly widely in the UK - just the ordinary bucket and spade type trips with the children and family visits. __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

05-23-2008, 01:03 PM	#3
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,515	He wasn't so much a hiker as an inveterate biker (at least, later in life). He road bikes because he had a distinct aversion to automobiles (part of his technology phobia). __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

05-23-2008, 02:35 PM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,460	Born to be wild? He wasn't so much a hiker as an inveterate biker At the risk of consigning this to mirth..sorry I couldn't resist:http://pics.livejournal.com/mithalwen/pic/00008z59/ __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace