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In this episode of The Atlas Obscura Podcast, we visit the places that inspired fantasy writer J.R.R. Tolkien. 50 years after Tolkien’s death, we honor the writer’s life and legacy, taking you back to where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit all began.

Our podcast is an audio guide to the world’s wondrous, awe-inspiring, strange places. In under 15 minutes, we’ll take you to an incredible site, and along the way you’ll meet some fascinating people and hear their stories. Join us daily, Monday through Thursday, to explore a new wonder with cofounder Dylan Thuras and a neighborhood of Atlas Obscura reporters.

An ancient English woodland that inspired a young J.R.R. Tolkien.
An ancient English woodland that inspired a young J.R.R. Tolkien. Elliott Brown/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED