Can't return to the Shire once in Rivendell, until...

[EazyCheeze1978]

Now, I've only seen the first movie, not the second; I'm waiting until the Extended version comes out. I assume there's a good story-based reason that we can't return to the Shire once we arrive at Rivendell, until a certain point.

But I have noticed a river accessible near Rivendell (the backside of the Falls of Rauros, seems to me, if my Middle-earth Geography is up) which has a path on the far side of it which we seem to be intended to cross, but the river is far too wide; will this be our method of getting back to the Shire, sometime in The Desolation of Smaug?

Note that I have no problems playing the Lego version of Desolation of Smaug; I finished the fourth episode of Lego Pirates of the Caribbean and I still haven't seen the whole fourth movie.

[BitArcher]

just use the eagle statues or try to find some barrier-holes

[EazyCheeze1978]

Don't have access to the eagle statues yet, and I did find a barrier hole in the form of a boat around Rivendell, that helped me out quite a bit, and it seemed to lead me right back to Trollshaws as well as an immense portion of ground past the river that seems to be a greatly expanded form of the Pass of Caradhras and Lorien. Seems the scale of this game is much greater than that of LEGO Lord of the Rings.

[Kaonashi]

once you complete the first movie you can travel anywhere by eagle, the films and extended edition have nothing to do with it, the game just wants you to move on, try completing the game before exploring free roam, because all the events are not unlocked until you complete it.

also, to get past the river you need to blow up the stones that are in front of it, use saruman, mithril fireworks bow, mithril bomb blade, potato or pine cone bomb