Gap of Rohan

The Gap of Rohan is the hinge of the western map. North of it the Misty Mountains end at Methedras, south of it the White Mountains begin at the Thrihyrne above Helm's Deep, and between the two ranges lies open country roughly twenty miles across. The river Isen comes down through it and turns west toward the sea.

An army or a traveler moving between the north-west of Middle-earth and Gondor or Rohan either crosses the Misty Mountains, which is hard, or comes this way, which is easy. Gondor understood the value of it and built Isengard at the northern side, with the Fords of Isen as the controlled crossing.

That control is what made Saruman's treachery so damaging. When Isengard turned hostile, the Gap stopped being Rohan's shield and became the door through which Rohan was attacked. It is also why the Fellowship rejected the southern route at Rivendell and again in Hollin. Going by the Gap would have taken them within sight of Orthanc, so they tried Caradhras instead and ended up in Moria.

Dunland lies immediately north-west of the Gap, which is how Saruman's Dunlending allies reached the war so quickly. In the other direction the road runs on west across the Isen toward Enedwaith, Tharbad and eventually the Shire, the line the Rangers used coming south.

Events at this place

1. TA 3019, January 12 · The Lord of the Rings

   The Fellowship rejects the southern road

   The company avoided the Gap of Rohan because it passed under Isengard, choosing the Redhorn Pass and then Moria instead.

2. TA 3019, March 2 · The Lord of the Rings

   Saruman's army marches through

   After taking the Fords of Isen in early March, Isengard's host moved through the Gap into Rohan and on to Helm's Deep.

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