The North is the largest region of the Seven Kingdoms, nearly as big as the other eight combined, and the least populated. From the Neck to the Wall it stretches for well over a thousand miles of forest, moor and hill, and its lords have followed House Stark of Winterfell for eight thousand years.
On the map it dominates the upper half of Westeros. The Kingsroad runs up its spine from Moat Cailin to Winterfell and on to Castle Black, while the White Knife carries trade from White Harbor into the interior.
Explore: The North
The Neck, a swampy isthmus barely fifty miles across at its narrowest, separates the North from the Riverlands; its causeway is guarded by the ruined towers of Moat Cailin, the reason no southern army has ever conquered the North by land. West of the Neck lie Blazewater Bay and the Stony Shore; to the east the Bite bites deep into the coast, with the Three Sisters guarding its mouth.
Winterfell sits in the centre of the region on hot springs, with the Wolfswood to its west and the Barrowlands to its south. The Dreadfort of House Bolton stands on the Weeping Water to the north-east, Last Hearth of House Umber guards the approach to the Wall, and Karhold looks out over the Shivering Sea. Bear Island lies in the Bay of Ice off the north-western coast; Skagos sits in the Bay of Seals.
The Wall itself runs for a hundred leagues from the Shadow Tower in the west to Eastwatch-by-the-Sea on the Bay of Seals, with Castle Black at its centre. The Gift, the strip of land south of the Wall, is held by the Night's Watch.
Winters in the North are long and lethal, and most Northmen keep the old gods of the First Men before their heart trees. White Harbor, ruled by House Manderly, is the only city and the region's window on the Narrow Sea. The people are known as hard, plain-spoken and slow to forget; their words for their lords are "Winter is Coming".
Key places in The North
- Winterfell Castle
Ancient seat of House Stark and capital of the North, built over hot springs beside the kingsroad.
- Castle Black Fortress
Headquarters of the Night's Watch on the Wall, guarding the kingsroad gate into the North.
- White Harbor City
Only true city of the North, a busy Manderly port at the mouth of the White Knife.
- The Dreadfort Castle
Grim Bolton stronghold on the Weeping Water, famous for thick walls and a dark reputation.
- Moat Cailin Ruin
Ruined First Men fortress on the causeway through the Neck, the key to invading the North.
- Last Hearth Castle
Northernmost great castle of the North, seat of House Umber near the kingsroad and the Wall.
- Karhold Castle
Isolated Karstark castle in the eastern North, founded by a younger branch of House Stark.
- Bear Island Island
Cold, wooded island in the Bay of Ice held by House Mormont, whose women learn to fight.
- Deepwood Motte Castle
Glover seat in the wolfswood, a timber hall on an earthen motte near the Bay of Ice.
- Torrhen's Square Castle
Tallhart castle west of Winterfell, a square keep guarding the road towards the Stony Shore.
- Barrowton Town
Northern market town on the barrowlands, seat of House Dustin near the Great Barrow.
- Greywater Watch Castle
Moving crannog stronghold of House Reed, hidden in the swamps of the Neck.
Distances from Winterfell
| To | as the raven flies | by road (approx.) | on horseback |
|---|---|---|---|
| King's Landing | 1,150 mi · 1,850 km | ≈ 1,440 mi | ≈ 48 days |
| Casterly Rock | 1,080 mi · 1,750 km | ≈ 1,360 mi | ≈ 45 days |
| Highgarden | 1,330 mi · 2,150 km | ≈ 1,670 mi | ≈ 56 days |
| The Eyrie | 770 mi · 1,240 km | ≈ 960 mi | ≈ 32 days |
| Riverrun | 830 mi · 1,330 km | ≈ 1,030 mi | ≈ 34 days |
| Storm's End | 1,410 mi · 2,270 km | ≈ 1,760 mi | ≈ 59 days |
| Sunspear | 1,920 mi · 3,100 km | ≈ 2,410 mi | ≈ 80 days |
| Pyke | 720 mi · 1,160 km | ≈ 900 mi | ≈ 30 days |
| Castle Black | 370 mi · 590 km | ≈ 460 mi | ≈ 15 days |
| Oldtown | 1,810 mi · 2,910 km | ≈ 2,260 mi | ≈ 75 days |
Travel times assume about 30 miles a day on horseback with rests, 18 miles a day on foot and 110 miles a day under sail with fair winds. Armies, wagons and winter storms move far more slowly.
All places in The North
- Castle Black Fortress
- The Wall Landmark
- White Harbor City
- Winterfell Castle
- Bear Island Island
- Eastwatch-by-the-Sea Fortress
- Karhold Castle
- Last Hearth Castle
- Moat Cailin Ruin
- The Dreadfort Castle
- Barrowton Town
- Cape Kraken Landmark
- Castle Cerwyn Castle
- Deepwood Motte Castle
- Greywater Watch Castle
- Hornwood Castle
- Long Lake Landmark
- Oldcastle Castle
- Queenscrown Ruin
- Ramsgate Town
- Sea Dragon Point Landmark
- Shadow Tower Fortress
- Skagos Island
- The Gift Landmark
- The Neck Landmark
- Torrhen's Square Castle
- Widow's Watch Castle
- Wolfswood Landmark