Western Watchtower

Map

Fort

Location ID
WhiterunWatchtowerExterior WhiterunWatchtowerExterior02

Western Watchtower is a fort in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

It is a ruined stone tower west of Whiterun and is used by the Whiterun Guard.

The Dragonborn's first battle against a dragon takes place during this quest, culminating with the death of Mirmulnir and the absorption of their first Dragon Soul. This soon gains the attention of the Greybeards of High Hrothgar, who summon the Dragonborn as a consequence.

The watchtower only appears as a map icon after the "Dragon Rising" quest has started.
Sometimes a Nord has a Falmer tag over his tag. He can be found here.
If the Civil War questline has been finished in favor of the Stormcloaks, no guards are stationed here. There still will be a Stormcloak banner that replaces Legion/Whiterun banners, however.
If you approach the watch tower before "Dragon Rising" it will be destroyed. The only difference in the quest is that the grass is on fire.
It is a good place to lure giants from Bleakwind Basin. The giants will be unable to enter the doorway, allowing you to pick them off with a bow or magic.

This section contains bugs related to Western Watchtower. Before adding a bug to this list, consider the following:

Please reload an old save to confirm if the bug is still happening.
If the bug is still occurring, please post the bug report with the appropriate system template 360 / XB1 , PS3 / PS4 , PC / MAC , NX , depending on which platform(s) the bug has been encountered on.
Be descriptive when listing the bug and fixes, but avoid having conversations in the description and/or using first-person anecdotes: such discussions belong on the appropriate forum board.

When standing on top of the tower, or when standing on the fallen rubble that makes a sort of ramped vantage point, it is possible to see a random weapon rapidly rising above it.

Forts (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Eastmarch	Abandoned Prison • Fort Amol • Gallows Rock • Mistwatch • Morvunskar • Narzulbur
Falkreath	Bloodlet Throne • Cracked Tusk Keep • Fort Neugrad • Ilinalta's Deep
Haafingar	Castle Volkihar^DG • Fort Hraggstad • Northwatch Keep
Hjaalmarch	Fort Snowhawk
The Pale	Fort Dunstad • Nightcaller Temple
The Reach	Broken Tower Redoubt • Fort Sungard • Harmugstahl
The Rift	Darklight Tower • Faldar's Tooth • Fort Dawnguard^DG • Fort Greenwall • Treva's Watch
Whiterun	Fellglow Keep • Fort Greymoor • High Hrothgar • Western Watchtower
Winterhold	Driftshade Refuge • Fort Fellhammer • Fort Kastav
Solstheim^DR	Ashfallow Citadel^DR • Fort Frostmoth^DR • Highpoint Tower^DR