Barrowlands

The Barrowlands are a stretch of rough highland in the interior of the North, set between the Wolfswood, the Neck, the Rills and the stretch of the King's Road that runs on to White Harbor. The name comes from the mounds that cover its plains, raised — so the story goes — over the bones of the First Men.

The tallest of them, beneath the settlement of Barrow Hall, is said to hide the tomb of an ancient king: some say a king of the First Men, others a king of giants. From Winterfell it takes about eight days' ride to reach it, and men from this region were among those who attended the Tourney at Harrenhal.

When Eddard Stark takes up the post of Hand of the King and sets out with Robert Baratheon from Winterfell toward King's Landing, the two old friends leave the King's Road for a stretch to walk across the plains of the Barrowlands.

Samwell Tarly crosses the same country on his way to Castle Black, and it is there that he sees snow for the first time in his life.

Later, when Robb Stark musters his men at Winterfell to march south, Maester Luwin tells Bran that the knights of the Barrowlands will be among those joining the host.

When Torrhen's Square comes under threat, Maester Luwin sends a raven to the Barrowlands asking for men to reinforce the battle there.

After King Robb Stark's death, the Barrowlands declare their support for Roose Bolton as the new Warden of the North, led by Lady Barbrey Ryswell.

Using Barrow Hall as their base, Ramsay Bolton and his Bastard's Boys comb the region for Rhaegar, Symond and Jared, three men who vanished after leaving White Harbor. The search turns up nothing.