Middle Earth Weekend to rule them all Sarehole Mill

It is believed the settings of Hobbitton and the Shire were inspired by Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog, and it was clear to see why as you walked through the emerald green grass, past the babbling brooks and crackling bracken to the entrance tent.

If the beautiful scenery and awe-inspiring working water mill don't take your breath away, the legions of Tolkien fans dressed as hobbits, elves, orcs and other fantastical creatures will.

Once inside you stepped right into Middle Earth with an array of themed stalls, activities and demonstrations providing fun for all-ages. Ever wanted your house to resemble a hobbit hole? Middle Earth Festival made that easy with rows upon rows of stalls selling replica weapons, animal hide rugs, leather-tooled spell tomes, bags of shimmering crystals, hand-carved goblets and wooden statues as well as intricately stitched garments for you to laze in around your dwellings.

You could eat just like a hobbit in Bilbo Baggins' house with everything from absinthe marzipan and chilli jerky at Cowley's Fine Foods, to authentic Indian cuisine and hand-made fudge and preserves in every flavour you could dream imaginable...other than lembas bread – though you could find breath of Sauron flavour.

You could find out if you were an elf or a dwarf with archery and axe throwing tasks that test your accuracy as well as your strength, or for the little ones in the main arena they could learn battle techniques with foam swords and live targets – their parents!

If that wasn't enough, you could also get up-close and personal with the endearing greyhounds from Birmingham Dog's Home and majestic birds of prey either at their informative talks or by handling them with the supervision of their keepers.