May 28, 2003

The Grey Havens
Manofwesternesse

Lily, the Grey Havens are not Valinor, nor are they a stop on the way there. They are the point of departure from Middle Earth, and are located to the North West of the Shire.
In the latter days of the Third Age all Elves departing ME would have left from the Grey Havens, thou I think in earlier days there were also Havens in the South (the Harlond?) but these became unsafe with the rise of Sauron and the growing threat from Umbar/Harad.
I think it was specifically mentioned by Elrond at some stage that, should the Grey Havens fall, then there could be no departure for any Elves remaining in ME.
Frodo and Bilbo, as Ringbearers, went on to Valinor with Gandalf & Elrond. Sam did not go at that time though he was told (by Frodo?) that he could go there in the future if the burden of having carried the Ring, even for a short time, eventually became more than he could bear.