Cradle Stone Tower is a solitary ruin east of Markarth, a little west of Lost Valley Redoubt and Bard’s Leap Summit. There’s no Forsworn army here – just one hagraven who has the place to herself. It’s a short, tidy climb with some loot, a skill book and a couple of ore veins, which makes it a nice warm-up before the bigger fights nearby.
What you’ll find
- Ground floor: a novice-locked gate, a table with a leveled helmet, and a novice or apprentice-locked chest down the stairs among the rubble.
- Second floor: the hagraven, plus a linen wrap, a troll skull and (sometimes) a skill book.
- Third floor: a pressure plate at the top of the stairs that triggers a lightning-firing soul gem trap.
- Top of the tower: a bird’s nest.
- Outside: a corundum ore vein next to the spiked barricade, and an iron ore vein further southwest.
Notable items
- Sithis – Alteration skill book on the second floor by the troll skull. It only appears once you’ve started the Dark Brotherhood questline.
Tips
The hagraven is alone, so this is a good place to practise against one before taking on a pair at Bard’s Leap. Rush her rather than trading spells at long range.
On the third floor, step over the pressure plate at the top of the stairs – or enjoy a free lightning bolt to the face. Remember to mine the corundum on the way out; smiths always need more of it.
Because it sits so close to Lost Valley Redoubt and Bard’s Leap Summit, it’s easy to fold this tower into the same trip: clear it first, then head east for the Word Wall and the waterfall dive.
If the book isn’t there yet, don’t worry – come back after the Dark Brotherhood has made your acquaintance.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Bard’s Leap Summit, Gloomreach, Lost Valley Redoubt, Valthume, Serpent’s Bluff Redoubt.
Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.
