
Think cosy Hobbit homes only exist in magical Middle Earth?

Head to Scandinavia and you'll see a whole host of grass-covered hideaways nestled in stunning Nordic landscapes.

The cosy, turf-topped properties are traditional in many countries like Iceland, Sweden and Norway and are so popular that there is even an annual competition to find the most beautiful green roof designs, hosted by the Scandinavian Green Roof Association (SGRA).

The properties not only resemble their on-screen Shire counterparts, but also have a range of environmental and economic benefits as they help to absorb rain water, provide insulation against winter chills and help to cool the home during the summer months.

Best of all, the picturesque lodgings blend right into the rolling, lush landscape, with many located right next to cascading waterfalls or in valleys between snow-capped mountains.

Here, MailOnline Travel reveals some of the most magical Scandinavian grass properties that look like they belong in the Shire.

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You may not be able to wake up in this stunning grass-covered building, but you can spend the day in it. The stunning, turf Hofskirkja church in the Oaefi region of Iceland, built in 1884, looks like something out of a fairy tale. It is now maintained by the National Museum

This unusual home, covered entirely by grass like a Hobbit hole, was reconstructed to resemble a Viking long house. It is located near Selfoss in Iceland

This stone house with a turf roof, located next to a waterfall, is situated on the picturesque island of Streymoy, Saksun, Faroe Islands

Featuring the traditional Icelandic turf-clad home design, this cluster of buildings in the village of Skogar is used a folk museum

Nestled at the base of a large, rocky cliff, these wooden shelters blend into their green surroundings in Nupsstadur, Iceland

The stunning Lindarbakki house in Bakkagerdi, on the east coast of Iceland, stands out thanks to its red highlights and garden

All that peeks out in this vast, uninhabited landscape in Skaftafell, Iceland, is a row of windows that allow light to fill the small home below

Grassy coverings help to absorb rain water, provide insulation against winter chills and help to cool the home during summer. Pictured are the Laufas turf homes in Iceland

One of the most spectacular places to have a cabin is this location, situated in a valley between snow-capped mountains in Norway

This 19th century turf-roofed church at Litla Hof, on Iceland's south coast, looks like the perfect shelter from the elements

The properties have a range of environment and economic benefits. Above, an old turf-roofed hut in Skoga, Iceland

This picture-perfect collection of pods resemble a set from a film, but is actually part of the Glaumbaer museum in north-west Iceland

Homes like this turf house in Glaumbaer, Iceland, are very similar to the homes found in the Shire, as featured in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films