Skyrim:Winterhold (region)

This article is about the hold. For the city, see Winterhold.

Hold: Winterhold (lore page)
Capital	Winterhold (map)
Jarl's Residence	Jarl's Longhouse
Military Fort	Fort Kastav
Initial Affiliation	Stormcloaks
Imperial Government
Jarl	Kraldar
Steward	Malur Seloth
Housecarl	Thonjolf
Stormcloaks Government
Jarl	Korir
Steward	Malur Seloth
Housecarl	Thaena
Location
Northeast part of Skyrim

The Winterhold region in the northeast corner of Skyrim

Winterhold is a hold in northeast Skyrim, with its capital in the city of Winterhold. It is initially affiliated with the Stormcloaks, but can be captured by the Imperials after completing Rescue from Fort Kastav.

Winterhold is the northernmost hold in Skyrim, and has weather to match. The Sea of Ghosts is off the northern coast, Eastmarch is to the southeast, and the Pale is to the south and west.

Perhaps the most notable feature of Winterhold is the College of Winterhold, a fortress-like school for mages which was spared on a rocky outcropping even though the Great Collapse tore down most of the capital around it. All that remains of the once-great city are four still-standing buildings (and the collapsed remains of several others) near the entrance to the College.

Map of Winterhold

Winterhold, the hold capital

Topographical Overview

Winterhold consists of snowy coasts and even snowier mountains. To the west and southwest is the Winterhold mountain range, which marks the border between Winterhold and the Pale, and some of the northern border with Eastmarch. Between the mountains and the sea to the east lies a tundra, where the elements have rendered the landscape barren and lifeless. Rock and ice shelves, and occasionally shingle beaches, form the barrier between Winterhold and the sea to the north and east. To the north the tundra stretches out into the Sea of Ghosts, forming one of the most inhospitable environments in Skyrim.

Flora and Fauna

Not many plants or creatures can survive Winterhold's harsh continental climate, and the hold is generally devoid of life as a result. The only plants that make their home in the mountains are the snowberry bush and some blue mountain flowers. By the coast, Nordic barnacles, clams and spiky grass thrive. The area around the Wreck of the Winter War is known to be rich in fish and dragonflies and a large, isolated population of salmon can be found by the coast.

As for large fauna, only the hardiest of creatures make their home in Winterhold, such as wolves, ice wolves, snow bears, snowy sabre cats, and horkers. Occasionally, an unlucky traveler might also stumble upon an ice wraith, or worse, a wispmother.

Routes and Pathways

There is only one main road running through Winterhold. It originates as a branch of the Whiterun-Windhelm road. It runs northward through the eastern side of the hold right to the city of Winterhold. Another smaller and less used road runs from Winterhold to the ancient ruins of Saarthal.

Places

All locations in Winterhold with individual map markers are listed. There are a few places without map markers listed for their significance.

Hold Capital

•  Winterhold — A city on the northeast coast of Skyrim, and the capital of Winterhold hold. (map)
•  College of Winterhold — A school of the arcane arts. (map)

Farms, Towns, and Settlements including Orc Strongholds and Inns

• The Chill — The jail for Winterhold, located on an island north-northeast of the College of Winterhold and northeast of Septimus Signus's Outpost, across the sea. (map)
•  Japhet's Folly — A self-contained worldspace far northeast of Skyrim containing Blood Horkers and their leader Haldyn. (map)

Camps, including Giant Camps and Military Camps

•  Winterhold Imperial Camp — An Imperial camp in Winterhold Hold, located southeast of Dawnstar and northwest of Frostflow Lighthouse. (map)
•  Winterhold Stormcloak Camp — A Stormcloak camp in Winterhold Hold, located northeast of Windhelm and south of Snow Veil Sanctum. (map)

Caves

•  Bleakcoast Cave — A small cave southeast of Winterhold and directly east of the Shrine of Azura occupied by frost trolls. (map)
•  Bloodchill Cavern^CC — A small cave southwest of Winterhold containing a subterranean vampiric player home. (map)
•  Giant's Tooth^CC — A small island in the Sea of Ghosts. (map)
•  Hob's Fall Cave — A small cave on the coast between Winterhold and Dawnstar inhabited by leveled warlocks and skeletons. (map)
•  Septimus Signus's Outpost — A small cave north of the College of Winterhold inhabited by Septimus Signus. (map)
•  Sightless Pit — A medium-sized cave south-southwest of Winterhold containing Falmer and chaurus. (map)
•  Stillborn Cave — A small cave north-northwest of Windhelm, on the other side of the mountains from the city which is occupied by falmer, chaurus, and chaurus hunters. (map)
•  Yngvild — A medium-sized cave east-northeast of Dawnstar containing draugr and Yngvild ghosts. (map)

Dragon Lairs

Mount Anthor, the highest peak in Winterhold

•  Mount Anthor — A mountaintop dragon lair south-southwest of Winterhold. (map)

Mines

•  Whistling Mine — A small iron mine and settlement southeast of Winterhold. (map)

Ruins including Dwarven and Nordic

•  Alftand — A large Dwarven ruin southwest of Winterhold containing Dwarven automatons, Falmer, frostbite spiders, and skeevers. (map)
• Blackreach — An immense, naturally lit cavern inhabited by hordes of Falmer and containing the ruins of a Dwemer city. (map)
•  Ironbind Barrow — A small Nordic ruin southwest of Winterhold containing draugr and the tomb of Warlord Gathrik. (map)
•  Journeyman's Nook — A small outdoor Nordic ruin southeast of Winterhold containing a bandit. (map)
•  Saarthal — A medium-sized Nordic ruin southwest of Winterhold. (map)
•  Sightless Pit — A medium-sized cave south-southwest of Winterhold containing Falmer and chaurus. (map)
•  Sivdur's Respite^CC — A Nordic ruin located north of Windhelm. (map)
•  Skytemple Ruins — A small outdoor Nordic ruin north of the College of Winterhold containing a draugr and skeletons. (map)
•  Snow Veil Sanctum — A medium-sized Nordic ruin north-northeast of Windhelm containing draugr. (map)
•  Yngol Barrow — A small Nordic ruin northeast of Windhelm containing the shade of an ancient Nord warrior. (map)
•  Ysgramor's Tomb — A small Nordic ruin northwest of Winterhold containing Companion ghosts, frostbite spiders, and skeevers. (map)

Standing Stones and Daedric Shrines

•  The Serpent Stone — One of the thirteen Standing Stones scattered across Skyrim. (map)
•  Shrine of Azura — The shrine to the Daedric Prince Azura. (map)
•  The Tower Stone — One of the thirteen Standing Stones scattered across Skyrim. (map)

Towers and Forts

•  Driftshade Refuge — A medium-sized fort southeast of Dawnstar containing Silver Hands. (map)
•  Fort Fellhammer — A medium-sized fort and iron mine south of Dawnstar containing bandits. (map)
•  Fort Kastav — A medium-sized fort south of Winterhold initially occupied by warlocks and skeletons. (map)
•  Snowpoint Beacon — A small tower southwest of Winterhold containing bandits. (map)

Landmarks, including Bodies of Water, Clearings, Ships and Shipwrecks

•  Frostflow Lighthouse — A lighthouse located west of Winterhold in the north of Skyrim. (map)
•  Great Lift at Alftand — A Dwarven lift to Blackreach located northeast of Nightgate Inn and southeast of Wayward Pass. (map)
•  Hela's Folly — A shipwreck northeast of Dawnstar. (map)
•  Pilgrim's Trench — A deep underwater ravine northwest of Winterhold consisting of four submerged shipwrecks. (map)
• Sea of Ghosts — A vast ocean to the north of Skyrim. (map)
•  Wayward Pass — A pass through the mountains in the southwest of Winterhold. (map)
•  Wreck of The Pride of Tel Vos — A shipwreck on a small island east of Winterhold. (map)
•  Wreck of the Winter War — A shipwreck east-southeast of Snow Veil Sanctum and far northeast of Windhelm. (map)

Unmarked Places

• There are four Shrines in Winterhold.
  • A Shrine of Arkay near the Winterhold Stormcloak Camp.
  • Three Shrines of Talos:
    • East of Hob's Fall Cave.
    • East of the Tower Stone.
    • Northeast of Ysgramor's Tomb.

Winterhold Quests

All quests that are started in or are related to Winterhold (except for radiant quests begun in other holds) are listed here:

Main Quest

• Elder Knowledge: Recover an Elder Scroll to learn an Ancient Secret.

Imperial Legion Civil War Quests

• Reunification of Skyrim: Reunite Skyrim under the leadership of the Empire. (radiant)
• Rescue from Fort Kastav: Take Fort Kastav for the Imperials and rescue the prisoners within. (radiant)

Stormcloaks Civil War Quests

• Liberation of Skyrim: Drive the Imperials from Skyrim. (radiant)
• The Battle for Fort Kastav: Reclaim this fort for the Stormcloaks. (radiant)

Daedric Quests

• The Black Star: Help find and repair Azura's Star.
• Discerning the Transmundane: Uncover the secrets of the mysterious Dwemer lockbox.

College of Winterhold Quests

• All the College of Winterhold quests are related to Winterhold.

Companions Quests

• Purity of Revenge: Retrieve the Fragments of Wuuthrad and wipe out the Silver Hand.
• Glory of the Dead: Cure Kodlak's spirit and become Harbinger of the Companions.

Dark Brotherhood Quests

• Kill Deekus: Slay an Argonian looting a shipwreck.

Thieves Guild Quests

• Speaking With Silence: Track down the Dunmer behind the Guild's misfortunes.
• Hard Answers: Help translate Gallus's journal.
• The Litany of Larceny: Find items for Delvin Mallory throughout the questline.
• No Stone Unturned: Find the 24 gems to restore the Crown of Barenziah.
• Toying With The Dead: Retrieve a necromancer's journals for an interested buyer.

Side Quests

• Kyne's Sacred Trials: Participate in Kyne's Sacred Trials by hunting the guardian beasts of Skyrim.

Dawnguard Quests

• Seeking Disclosure^DG: Bring the Elder Scrolls to Dexion.
• Scroll Scouting^DG: Obtain information on the Dragon Elder Scroll.

Creation Club Quests

• The Arms of Chaos^CC: Complete a mage's quest to reassemble two powerful staves.
• Balance of Power^CC: Put a stop to two bandit gangs wielding strange otherworldly equipment.
• Creature of Legend^CC: Track down and tame the last living Unicorn.
• A Dying Wish^CC: Make a bitter choice.
• Guests for Dinner^CC: Attend a feast.
• The Lost Library^CC: Locate a huge collection of powerful spell tomes.
• A Matter of Pride^CC: Obtain the legendary katana Goldbrand.
• Swift as an Arrow^CC: Learn how to craft and use Telekinesis Arrows.

Other

In addition, many miscellaneous quests are located in Winterhold. They are listed here.

Notes

• Winterhold is the only Hold that doesn't have a plot of land for sale if Hearthfire is installed, making building a house there impossible. It doesn't matter if you helped Korir or not.