Boromir's Journey Map: Minas Tirith to Rivendell

Boromir's journey is the only one in The Lord of the Rings made entirely alone, and it gets very little space on the page. He describes it himself at the Council of Elrond in a few sentences, and what those sentences contain is a hundred and ten days of hard riding through country nobody in Gondor had visited in living memory.

The dream came to his brother Faramir several times and to Boromir once: a voice speaking of a broken sword in Imladris, of Isildur's Bane awakening, and of a Halfling standing forth. Denethor would not let Faramir go, so Boromir, the elder and the Captain-General, took the errand for himself. He had just fought in the defense of Osgiliath on June 20, when the east bank was lost and he and Faramir were among the few who swam back from the broken bridge.

He set out on July 4, TA 3018 and rode north-west through Rohan, where he was given the horse that carried him much of the way. Past the Gap of Rohan he followed the old North-South Road up through Enedwaith to the ruins of Tharbad on the Greyflood. The bridge there had long since fallen, and Boromir lost his horse crossing the river and went on foot from there.

The rest of the road through Eriador took most of the remaining time, since nobody he met could tell him where Imladris was. He arrived at Rivendell on the night of October 24, TA 3018, worn out, and walked into the Council the next morning to find the broken sword, the Halfling and Isildur's Bane all waiting in the same room.

He then joined the Fellowship and rode south again over ground he had just covered, which is part of why his road ends where it does. Four months after reaching Rivendell he was dead at Parth Galen, killed by orc-arrows defending Merry and Pippin after trying to take the Ring from Frodo.

Frequently asked questions

What route did Boromir take to Rivendell?

North-west through Rohan and past the Gap of Rohan, then up the old North-South Road through Enedwaith to Tharbad on the Greyflood, and north across Eriador to Imladris.

How long did Boromir's journey take?

One hundred and ten days. He left Minas Tirith on July 4, TA 3018 and arrived at Rivendell on the night of October 24, the day before the Council of Elrond.

Why did Boromir go to Rivendell?

To interpret a recurring dream that spoke of a broken sword in Imladris, the waking of Isildur's Bane and a Halfling who would stand forth. Faramir had the dream first, but Denethor sent Boromir instead.

Route, stop by stop

01 · TA 3018, June 20

Osgiliath

Two weeks before he rides, Boromir and Faramir hold the bridge at Osgiliath against an assault led by the Nazgul and are among the few who swim back when the arch is broken. It is that night's defeat that makes the dream urgent.

02 · TA 3018, July 4

Minas Tirith

Boromir sets out from the White City on the errand Denethor refused to give Faramir, to find the place named Imladris in their dream and learn what Isildur's Bane means.

03 · TA 3018, July

Edoras

Passing through Rohan he is given a horse for the northward road. He later tells the Council that the way even to Rohan was long, and that the roads beyond it were worse.

04 · TA 3018, July

Gap of Rohan

He crosses the Fords of Isen and turns north up the old road, keeping clear of Isengard. This is the last stretch where anyone he meets has heard of Gondor.

05 · TA 3018, August

Tharbad

At the ruined town on the Greyflood the ancient bridge is down and the fords are treacherous. Boromir loses his horse in the crossing and continues north on foot through empty Eriador.

06 · TA 3018, October 24

Rivendell

He reaches Imladris on the night of October 24 after a hundred and ten days, four days after Frodo was carried in over the Ford. At the Council next morning he sees the shards of Narsil, meets the Halfling, and learns that Isildur's Bane is the One Ring; the sword is reforged only after the Council.