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Even in the Shire the rumour of the Barrow-wights of the Barrow-downs beyond the Forest had been heard. But it was not a tale that any hobbit liked to listen to, even by a comfortable fireside far away.
- The Fellowship of the Ring (Book 1), Chapter 7
The Barrow-downs are a series of hills between the Old Forest and Bree, crowned with burial mounds dating back to the First Age. Revered by the Northern Dúnedain, they buried many lords and kings there.
Following the split of the kingdom of Arnor, the Barrow-downs became part of the kingdom of Cardolan. After Cardolan's defeat at the hands of the Witch King, many Dúnedain fled there. After the Great Plague killed the remaining Dúnedain, the Witch King released evil spirits into the hills. Known as Barrow-wights, they have been haunting the area ever since.
