Eldergleam Sanctuary is a large cave southwest of Windhelm, with Cronvangr Cave to the north and Bonestrewn Crest to the northeast. At its heart stands the Eldergleam, an ancient tree held sacred to the goddess Kynareth. It’s one of the most peaceful places in Skyrim – unless you start hacking at the tree, at which point the local spriggans have opinions.
What you’ll find
- The Eldergleam itself, its roots blocking the path to the trunk.
- Two Nords, Asta and Sond, who come here to admire the tree, plus a Dunmer pilgrim.
- Plenty of alchemy ingredients growing all over the cave.
- A chest on a rock ledge to the right of the path, near where Asta sits, with a corundum ore vein beside it.
- Two more chests near the tree, reachable only by using Nettlebane to move the roots in the way.
- Spriggans that appear if you strike the Eldergleam.
Quests
The sanctuary is the final stop of The Blessings of Nature, where you decide what to do about the Eldergleam and its sap.
Notable items
- Mystery of Talara, v 2 – Restoration skill book near the Dunmer pilgrim.
- A Tragedy in Black – Enchanting skill book in a crate outside, a short way northeast above the entrance, along with several soul gems.
- Corundum ore vein and the hidden chests behind the roots.
Tips
Before heading in, climb above the entrance and grab the crate with the soul gems and the Enchanting book – lots of players miss it. Bring an empty ingredient pouch, because this cave is an alchemist’s shopping trip. Nettlebane only works on the roots that block the path or hide chests; swinging it at the others does nothing except make you look silly. West of the sanctuary, there’s an unmarked camp of hunters relaxing in a hot spring, if you fancy a chat.
Good to know
Some players report the dragon from nearby Bonestrewn Crest getting stuck in mid-air when they come out of the sanctuary. Odd, but harmless.
Nearby
Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Darkwater Crossing, Broken Limb Camp, The Atronach Stone, Bonestrewn Crest, Cronvangr Cave.
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.
