Sheepshead Hills

The Sheepshead Hills are a range of low, rolling hills located in the northern Riverlands, east of the kingsroad and south of the Gift. They are a sparsely populated region of the North, known for their sheep pastures and isolated communities. The hills provide a strategic route for armies moving between the Neck and the eastern coast, and their name derives from the sheep that graze on their slopes.

Geography and Location

The Sheepshead Hills lie east of the kingsroad and south of the Gift, a region granted to the Night's Watch. They are part of the northern Riverlands, a border area between the North and the riverlands proper. The hills are characterized by their gentle slopes and grassy terrain, making them suitable for sheep farming. The region is sparsely populated, with scattered villages and holdfasts.

Strategic Significance

The Sheepshead Hills offer a strategic route for armies moving between the Neck and the eastern coast. During the War of the Five Kings, the hills were used by forces loyal to Robb Stark, the King in the North. The terrain provides cover and grazing for horses, making it a viable path for cavalry and supply trains. The hills also serve as a natural barrier, separating the Gift from the more densely populated riverlands.

Narrative Role

In A Dance with Dragons, the Sheepshead Hills are mentioned in the context of Lord Wyman Manderly's potential allegiance to Stannis Baratheon. Davos Seaworth learns that the Manderlys control the lands east of the White Knife, including the Sheepshead Hills, and that Lord Wyman can deliver the allegiance of all the lands east of the White Knife, from Widow's Watch and Ramsgate to the Sheepshead Hills and the headwaters of the Broken Branch. This highlights the hills as part of the territory that could be brought under Stannis's control if Manderly declares for him.