Worcestershire is a county that is known for many things, whether that be its magnificent cathedral, its picturesque canal, or perhaps its renowned porcelain trade. 

But one thing it is less famous for, however, is its bizarre role in inspiring J. R. R. Tolkien's mythical landscapes of Middle Earth. 

Playing host to the tales of 'The Lord of the Rings', Middle Earth represents the genius of the late Tolkien's imagination, with a variety of breath-taking terrains culminating to form an imaginary world that fans of the books and films have so often found themselves lost in. 

And while the sparse and volcanic wastelands of Mordor may hold little resemblance to anywhere that Tolkien would have visited in Worcestershire, some of his inspiration for Middle Earth did in fact originate from his time in the county. 

Tolkien was a frequent visitor with his good friend CS Lewis in the 1930s, often arriving on the early train from Oxford before spending the day walking the mist-shrouded hills of The Malvern's. 

Malvern Gazette:

Such excursions are widely thought to have given birth to the Ered Nimrais mountain range of Middle Earth, or as they're widely known, the White Mountains. 

An eery yet stunning terrain, the White Mountains represent the border between Rohan and Gondor, two kingdoms of men that share a tumultuous relationship with each other during the course of the tales.

Despite Tolkien deeming The Malvern's worthy of inclusion in his stories of Middle Earth, film producer Peter Jackson did not. 

A New Zealand international, Jackson thought it best to use the wealth of scenery in his homeland to shoot 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy.