The Shire Map

A detailed Shire map print showing the country of the Hobbits in a wider setting, from the Westmarch and Tower Hills all the way to Bree and the Midgewater Marshes.

I have a soft spot for this corner of Middle‑earth, and after making the Middle‑earth Map and Beleriand Map, the Shire had to follow. It keeps the same overall style as the other maps in the series, but stays closer to the country itself. The Shire is smaller, but it is easy to get lost in all the same.

The Shire was also worked out differently from many of Tolkien’s larger lands. Its layout seems to have been clearer to him from an early stage, with roads, distances, boundaries, and small settlements fitting together in a way that feels unusually settled. In making this map, I kept close to Christopher Tolkien’s layout while allowing more of the surrounding country to remain visible.

What I like about this part of Tolkien’s world is how familiar it becomes. You can imagine Bilbo and Frodo walking its roads, crossing from one small place to another, and knowing the country not as a grand stage but as home. It is not epic in the same way as Middle‑earth or Beleriand, but there is still plenty here to explore and discover.

Many Shire maps keep close to the Shire itself. I wanted this version to show more of the country around it. To the west, the map reaches beyond the Tower Hills and includes the Westmarch. To the east, it follows the road toward Bree and the first part of the Hobbits’ journey toward Rivendell. To the north and south, places such as Lake Evendim, Annúminas, Fornost, and Sarn Ford help place the Shire in a wider world.

The map is printed at the same paper size as my Beleriand Map, but at a more detailed scale because the area covered is much smaller. This gives the Shire more room on the page without cutting it loose from the surrounding lands.

This Shire Map is offered as a signed and numbered Limited Edition only. I print it on Canson Rag Photographique, one of the finest matte cotton papers I have used. It has no glossy glare, holds fine detail beautifully, and gives the print a quiet depth that suits the map. I print each one myself in my studio in Sweden and check it carefully before I ship it.

• Edition: Limited Edition of 250, signed and numbered
• Scale: 1:500,000
• Paper: Canson Rag Photographique, 310 gsm, 100% cotton
• Inks: Epson UltraChrome Pro12 pigment inks
• Paper size: 32.6 × 22 in (82.8 × 55.8 cm)
• Image area: 31.1 × 20.5 in (79 × 52 cm)
• Printed by: Rinus, in my own studio in Sweden
• Frame: Not included