Once it was a modest farm. Lambs ran on the hills, enjoying the sun. But once the lands near Hamilton were chosen as decorations for the films “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”.

Even before several hobbit burrows were built on the hills, the sheep farm seemed to be the perfect double of the famous “Shire”. And with the houses, the emerald valley turned into a real Shire from the pages of Tolkien's book.

In September 1998, Peter Jackson, the director of the saga, “discovered” the farm during an aerial search of the suitable location for filming. Construction began in March 1999. A few months later, there started the filming of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. However, at the end of the film production, the decorations were removed. And in 2009, when this place was again transformed for the “Hobbit” trilogy, the burrows of little heroes were built from permanent materials. The reconstruction process took two years. And in 2011, the filming was successfully done in the new decorations. 

The farm is still functioning. But the people can easily enjoy the filming views. Most hobbit burrows are protected with fences. So, you cannot come there. But one of them is open to visitors. Guides tell you where and when every construction appears in films. The feature of the “museum” is the Green Dragon, a bizarre old-fashioned pub where the characters liked to meet. At the end of the excursion, they offer you to drink an elvish health drink, gnomish ale, and hobbit beer.

The houses are very detailed. For example, on the doors, there are even some attrition showing that they were used for a long time, or the burrows are decorated with an artificial lawn to create a round shape. And a water mill grinds flour. You look at these bizarre constructions, and it seems that Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins come out to smoke a pipe on a bench, or Frodo and Sam turn off the road. 

The Shire tour includes a walk through the square with a thousand-year-old tree, a party field, Bilbo Baggins house, a bag end, a water mill, and Green Dragon Café with a free cider.