Ard Skellig – Witcher 3 Location

This guide is an overview of a certain location in the Witcher 3. The guide is composed of a map, map legend, and walkthrough of all the various points.


witcher 3 quest ard skellig map

1 – Cave
2 – Trading Post
3 – Crypt
4 – Kaer Trolde Town
5 – Kaer Trolde Keep
6 – Ancient Crypt
7 – Guarded Treasure
8 – Monster Den (Ghost)
9 – Ruined Watchtower
10 – Yustianna’s Grotto
11 – Bandit Camp
12 – Monster Den (Alghouls)
13 – Kaer Gelen / Monster Den (Katakan)
14 – Mine
15 – Abandoned Site (Sawmill)
16 – Rannvaig
17 – Houses
18 – Person in Distress (Blacksmith)
19 – Fayrlund
20 – Castle Ruins
21 – Boxholm Ruins
22 – Person in Distress (Herbalist)
23 – Hidden Treasure
24 – Blandare
25 – Cyclops
26 – Abandoned Sawmill
27 – Gedyneith
28 – Gremist’s Lab
29 – Hidden Treasure / Place of Power
30 – Druids’ Camp / Place of Power
31 – Cave
32 – Succubus Cave
33 – Warrior’s Camp
34 – Distillery
35 – Grotto
36 – Abandoned Site (Ruined Inn) / Hidden Treasure / Monster Nest
37 – Fyresdal
38 – Ruined Fortress
39 – Elverum Lighthouse / Guarded Treasure / Caves
40 – Blueboy Lugos / Cave of Dreams
41 – Holmstein’s Port
42 – Kaer Muire
43 – Place of Power / Cave
44 – Fornhala
45 – Ruined Fortress / Cave
46 – Abandoned Site (Sawmill)
47 – Barrows
48 – Ambush
49 – Arinbjorn
50 – Shepherd
51 – Hidden Treasure
52 – Hidden Treasure / Cave
53 – Mikkjal’s House
54 – Eldberg Lighthouse

Overview

1 – Cave

This cave is involved in the quest Contract: Muire D’yaeblen.

2 – Trading Post

You’ll meet a merchant and a few guards at this trading post. Also, if you pay the Skelliger in need of money in Kaer Trolde (#4), then you’ll find him again here, which will trigger the quest Worthy of Trust.

3 – Crypt

This crypt is involved in the quest Peace Disturbed. See that quest entry for more information about the location.

4 – Kaer Trolde Town

You’ll encounter a few people and things of interest in this town:

  • Bjorg (at the shipyard). He’s involved in the quest Contract: Muire D’yaeblen.
  • Herbalist (near the entrance).
  • Johann Bohner (at the docks). He’ll just be called Skelliger. When you talk to him, he’ll tell you that he needs 150 crowns to get back home to Novigrad. If you pay him, then he’ll leave, but you’ll spot him again at the trading post to the south (#2), and talking to him there will trigger the quest Worthy of Trust.
  • Jonas the Innkeep (in the New Port). He’ll have some gwent cards for sale.
  • Notice Board (near the entrance). Reading the notes on the board will trigger the quests Contract: Muire D’yaeblenThe Family BladeFists of Fury: SkelligeGwent: Skellige Style, and In the Heart of the Woods.
  • Sjusta the barber (across the street from the New Port). He’ll cut your hair and also sell you fancy clothes.
  • Traveling Merchant (either in town or wandering to the south). He’ll have several Lonesome World Guides for sale. These will reveal some of the fast travel points around the Skellige Islands, making island hopping easier.
  • Valgard and the Fightmaster (next the New Port). They’re involved in the quest Fists of Fury: Skellige.
  • Yennefer’s room (adjacent to the New Port). This is where you’ll find your stash.

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5 – Kaer Trolde Keep

To reach the keep from the town (#4), you’ll have two choices. You can walk there using the long north-south path located on the eastern side of the town, or you can take the elevator on the northern side of the town, and then climb some stairs. Either way, you should end up at the fast travel marker on the bridge leading to the keep.

The keep itself is involved in the quest The King Is Dead — Long Live the King. You’ll also meet three people of interest inside:

  • Journeyman armorer and journeyman blacksmith. You’ll find them near the entrance to the keep. The armorer will have Undvik armor and horse accessories for sale, and he’ll also have four quest-related documents available: Ibrahim Savi’s First Map; Ibrahim Savi’s Second Map; Damp, Moldy Notes by Hieronymus on the Witcher Elgar; and Notes on Parchment by Hieronymus on Elgar the Witcher. The first two documents can help you with the scavenger hunt Bear School Gear, while the latter two can help you with the scavenger hunt Wolf School Gear.

    Note: If the armorer isn’t at his post, then you might have luck entering and then immediately exiting the keep. Sometimes that will make him appear.
  • Crach an Craite. You’ll find him in his bedroom in the keep. He’s involved in several quests, including Following the ThreadGwent: Skellige StyleKing’s GambitThe Lord of Undvik, and Possession.

The keep also has a Place of Power in its cellar, but you won’t be able to reach it unless you support Cerys during the quest King’s Gambit.

6 – Ancient Crypt

This crypt is involved in the quest The Sunstone. The two location markers south of the crypt (one for a Place of Power and the other for a Hidden Treasure) are both located inside the crypt, which means you won’t be able to “find” them until late in the game.

7 – Guarded Treasure

You’ll have to battle two level 13 gargoyles and a level 30 ice elemental in these ruins, but after the fight you’ll be able to loot a random treasure chest and a skeleton holding the diagram for the Ursine Silver Sword.

8 – Monster Den (Ghost)

Inside this den you’ll encounter a level 31 ghost, but you’ll also find four random treasure chests.

9 – Ruined Watchtower

You’ll find the diagram for Enhanced Ursine Gauntlets here.

10 – Yustianna’s Grotto

You’ll meet a quartet of bandits inside the cave here. They’ll demand your money or your life. You’ll have three ways to respond: you can pay them 150 crowns, you can use Axii / Delusion on them to make them leave you alone, or you can fight them. Just note that for the first two options, you’ll have to leave their camp, and if you return, then you’ll have to fight them. So chances are, you’ll fight them no matter what.

As you explore the cave, you’ll find several treasure chests to loot, including a few behind illusionary walls (which will require you to have The Eye of Nehaleni in order to pass). You’ll probably find several relic weapons, runes, and glyphs inside the chests.

11 – Bandit Camp

In the bandit camp here, you’ll find a chest containing the diagrams for Superior Griffin ArmorSuperior Griffin BootsSuperior Griffin Gauntlets, and Superior Griffin Trousers.

12 – Monster Den (Alghouls)

After defeating the alghouls here, you’ll be able to loot a pair of chests, including one with the diagram for Ursine Silver Sword – Enhanced.

13 – Kaer Gelen / Monster Den (Katakan)

At the ruins here, you’ll encounter a few level 29 wraiths (on the ground level) and a single level 29 katakan (on the upper level). While climbing the stairs between the levels, you’ll discover a hole in the wall hiding a chest. Inside the chest you’ll find the diagram for Feline Steel Sword – Mastercrafted.

14 – Mine

This mine is involved in the quest Contract: Missing Miners.

15 – Abandoned Site (Sawmill)

If you kill the level 15 mucknixers here, then you’ll earn 50 crowns and 120 xp, and the laborers (including a general merchant) will return to work.

16 – Rannvaig

You’ll encounter a few things of interest in this village.

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17 – Houses

You’ll find two houses here. In front of the western house you’ll meet Lothar. He’s involved in the quest The Nithing. In front of the eastern house you’ll encounter some bandits. Attacking them will trigger the quest Armed Assault.

18 – Person in Distress (Blacksmith)

After defeating the bandits here, you’ll find a Cage Key on one of their corpses. If you use the key to free a blacksmith from his cage, then he’ll make his way to Fayrlund (#19), but he won’t become a shopkeeper.

19 – Fayrlund

You’ll find a blacksmith and a merchant in this town. You’ll also meet Harald and Sven, who are involved in the quest In the Heart of the Woods.

20 – Castle Ruins

These ruins are involved in the quest Contract: Missing Son. Propped up on the western wall of the castle, you’ll find a chest containing the diagram for Mastercrafted Wolven Gauntlets.

21 – Boxholm Ruins

These ruins are involved in the quest Contract: Missing Son. You’ll find a Hidden Treasure site on the western side of the village. Looting the corpse there will trigger the quest Inheritance. In the fortress ruins on the eastern side of the village, you’ll find a chest (in the northeastern corner) containing the diagram for Griffin Steel Sword – Mastercrafted.

22 – Person in Distress (Herbalist)

When you reach the herbalist’s hut here, you’ll discover that bandits have taken it over. After defeating the bandits, the herbalist will turn into a shopkeeper.

23 – Hidden Treasure

When you loot the corpse here, you’ll trigger the quest Freya Be Praised!

24 – Blandare

You’ll encounter a few things of interest in this town:

25 – Cyclops

When you kill the level 21 cyclops here, you’ll trigger the quest Hard Times.

26 – Abandoned Sawmill

When you approach this site, you’ll trigger the quest Abandoned Sawmill.

27 – Gedyneith

At the sacred oak here, you’ll meet a druid who will give you the quest Shock Therapy. You’ll also meet Ermion and a shopkeeper named Yolar here after completing the quest Echoes of the Past. Ermion is also involved in the quest Gwent: Skellige Style. The shopkeeper will have Potions of Clearance for sale.

28 – Gremist’s Lab

You’ll meet the master alchemist Gremist here. He’s involved in the quest Practicum in Advanced Alchemy.

29 – Hidden Treasure / Place of Power

You’ll encounter a level 30 cyclops in the ruins here. After defeating it, if you climb the rocks at the back of the ruins, then you’ll discover a Place of Power and a pair of chests on the upper level. One of the chests will contain the diagrams for Mastercrafted Griffin ArmorMastercrafted Griffin BootsMastercrafted Griffin Gauntlets, and Mastercrafted Griffin Trousers.

30 – Druids’ Camp / Place of Power

You’ll meet Yennefer and Ermion at the druids’ camp here during the quest Echoes of the Past. You might also notice a shopkeeper named Yolar just to the south of the camp. He won’t talk to you until you’ve completed Echoes of the Past, at which point he’ll move over to Gedyneith to the north (#27). But note: his shopkeeper icon might remain south of the camp for a while. Just ignore it. Finally, after completing the quest Echoes of the Past, an herbalist will show up in the camp.

31 – Cave

This cave is involved in the quest A Bard’s Beloved.

32 – Succubus Cave

This cave is involved in the quest Practicum in Advanced Alchemy.

33 – Warrior’s Camp

You’ll meet a warrior at this camp. After rescuing him from pirates, he’ll give you the quest Taken as a Lass.

34 – Distillery

This distillery is involved in the quest Practicum in Advanced Alchemy. Inside it, you’ll have to fight a cyclops, but you’ll also find a random treasure chest.

35 – Grotto

This grotto is involved in the quest The Sad Tale of the Grossbart Brothers. Inside it, you’ll find the diagram for Enhanced Ursine Armor.

36 – Abandoned Site (Ruined Inn) / Hidden Treasure / Monster Nest

For the abandoned site and monster nest, you’ll encounter a few level 13 sirens in the area. When you blow up their nest, a level 17 ekhidna will appear and attack you. Defeating these creatures will clear the area and earn you 50 crowns and 170 xp. It will also cause the villagers and an herbalist to return.

For the hidden treasure, you’ll find a chest containing a Letter in one of the buildings. Reading the Letter will trigger the quest Family Fortune.

Finally, in the northernmost building, you’ll encounter a few level 20 wraiths, but you’ll also find the diagram for Ursine Steel Sword.

37 – Fyresdal

You’ll find a notice board in Fyresdal. If you read the notes on it, then you’ll trigger the quests Contract: Dragon and Contract: Skellige’s Most Wanted. You’ll also meet a few people in the village: Vagn and a story-telling Skelliger, who are involved in the contracts, a merchant, and an amateur blacksmith. The blacksmith will have the diagrams for Dwarven BladeFaustinoSteiger, and Tir Tochair Blade for sale.

38 – Ruined Fortress

In the center of this fortress, you’ll discover a harpy monster nest. Then up in the ramparts, you’ll find a chest containing the diagram for Superior Wolven Armor.

39 – Elverum Lighthouse / Guarded Treasure / Caves

There are two things of interest at this location. Inside the lighthouse itself you’ll find a Guarded Treasure being protected by three level 13 sirens. Then underneath the lighthouse, you’ll discover a cave system with two entrances, one to the north and one to the south. Inside the cave system you’ll encounter a level 16 bear, and you’ll find a treasure chest containing the diagram for Griffin Silver Sword – Superior.

40 – Blueboy Lugos / Cave of Dreams

You’ll encounter Blueboy Lugos and the Cave of Dreams here. They’re both involved in the quest The Cave of Dreams.

41 – Holmstein’s Port

You’ll meet a general merchant in this town.

42 – Kaer Muire

In the Kaer Muire town you’ll find a notice board that will give you the quest A Hallowed Horn. Inside the keep’s courtyard, you’ll meet a journeyman armorer and a journeyman blacksmith. Then inside the keep itself (in the southwestern tower), you’ll meet Madman Lugos. He’s involved in the quests Gwent: Skellige Style and The Sunstone.

43 – Place of Power / Cave

You’ll find a Place of Power next to the path here. You’ll have to jump to reach it. We had better luck jumping from the ridge to the north rather than the path to the east.

You’ll also find a cave to the west and below the Place of Power. Inside it, you’ll encounter the trolls Dodger, Jesse and Joe, but you’ll also discover the diagram for Enhanced Ursine Boots.

44 – Fornhala

This town is the home of the vildkaarls. It’s involved in the quest King’s Gambit.

45 – Ruined Fortress / Cave

Underneath the ruined fortress here (#45), you’ll discover a Monster Den filled with level 6 nekkers — and eventually a level 12 nekker warrior guarding a corpse. On the corpse, you’ll find an Alchemist’s Key, which will unlock a chest near the entrance to the den. Inside the chest you’ll find some random loot.

Past the nekker warrior, if you climb a pair of ledges, then you’ll come to an illusionary rock wall. With The Eye of Nehaleni (gained during the quest Wandering in the Dark), you’ll be able to remove the illusion, which will connect the Monster Den with the cave to the north (#45a). You’ll find some random treasures inside the cave.

Also at the fortress inside the southwestern tower, you’ll find a chest containing the diagram for Griffin Silver Sword – Mastercrafted.

46 – Abandoned Site (Sawmill)

When you defeat the bandits here, the workers will come back, including a merchant. You’ll also receive 170 xp and 50 crowns.

47 – Barrows

Inside the westernmost barrow, you’ll find a half-buried chest containing the diagram for Wolven Silver Sword – Superior.

48 – Ambush

When you talk to the boy on the side of the road here, he’ll tell you that his father was attacked by a bear in the woods. However, when he leads you to the site, you’ll get ambushed by three thugs. The thugs won’t drop anything interesting, and the boy will disappear during the fight.

49 – Arinbjorn

You’ll discover a few things of interest in this town:

50 – Shepherd

At this spot you’ll encounter a shepherd being attacked by a pair of sirens. If you help the shepherd by defeating the sirens, then you’ll earn 50 xp.

51 – Hidden Treasure

You’ll stumble over a corpse holding a Chest Key just to the southeast of the island here. The associated chest is on the island itself. You’ll find some random loot inside the chest.

52 – Hidden Treasure / Cave

In the pirate camp on the island here, you’ll find a bag containing an Unsent Letter. Reading the letter will trigger the quest Pearls of the Coast. Just to the east of the pirate camp, you’ll find an underwater cave entrance. It’s involved in the quest The Sunstone.

53 – Mikkjal’s House

Mikkjal is involved in the quest Contract: The Phantom of Eldberg.

54 – Eldberg Lighthouse

The lighthouse here is involved in the quest Contract: The Phantom of Eldberg.

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Kelson H.
Kelson H.

Kelson is a spud head from out west. He is most happy when holding a milky tea with too much honey and playing a sprawling role playing game or reading a fantasy novel. His video game tastes vary but his main genres are looter shooters, RPGs, and real time strategy games.

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