The Carrock

The Carrock sits in the middle of the Great River on the eastern side of the Anduin vales, north of the Old Ford where the Old Forest Road crosses, and about a day's walk west of Beorn's house. On the map it is the first fixed landmark east of the High Pass, which makes it the natural resting point for anyone who has just come down out of the Misty Mountains.

It is a lump of stone almost as tall as a hill, with steep sides, a flat top, and a shallow ford of stepping stones leading out to it. Beorn cut the steps that climb its side and used the flat summit as a lookout. When Bilbo asks what a carrock is, Gandalf explains that a carrock is simply a rock, and that this one is the Carrock because it is the only one near Beorn's home and he knows it well.

The Eagles of the Misty Mountains carried Gandalf, Bilbo and the thirteen dwarves from the Eyrie to the Carrock after the escape from the goblins and the Wargs, and set them down on the top. The company climbed down, crossed the stepping stones, and walked east toward Beorn's hall, where Gandalf introduced the dwarves two at a time so the skin-changer would not lose his temper.

After the Battle of Five Armies the lands around the Carrock passed into the keeping of Beorn and his descendants, the Beornings, who guarded the Old Ford and the High Pass and charged heavy tolls for the crossing.

Events at this place

1. TA 2941 · The Hobbit

   The Eagles set the company on the Carrock

   After rescuing Thorin's company from the burning pines, the Eagles carried them east and left them on the flat top of the Carrock.

2. TA 2941 · The Hobbit

   Crossing to Beorn's land

   Bilbo and the dwarves used the stepping stones by the Carrock to cross the Anduin and walk to Beorn's hall.

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