I'm about level 12.5 now, done all the quests in/around Riverwood, Whiterun and some of Ivarstead. Would be nice to have some new conjuration spells. About to hit High Hrothgar right now.

I guess I could take a carriage to Winterhold to get new spells/do the mage quest line. I was just going to see if the main quest would take me there. Anyway, am I losing out by not heading there to at least get spells?

Appreciate any input. Loving the game!!!

Edit: I'm only able to get spells from the Jarl's mage in Whiterun.

I went at lvl 2 Watch out for the giants.

You can go at that level. I went at about level 10.

Be warned, the path is pretty brutal. There are giants and ice wolves along the way.

Depends on your difficulty, expert or above I'd recommend level 5, you get sent to dwemer ruins rather early that can be real painful...

I've done two quests there so far I think, I don't think it really matters when you go, I usually just play it by ear with TES games.

Can I just take a carriage there? Winterhold seems pretty far away compared to other locations...

I'm several quests in, a very enjoyable questline and faction.

I went around level 8 or so, and I haven't had too many problems, although the Dwemer Ruins you're sent to can be kind of a [censored].

Yes go by carriage, don't say I didn't warn you, a good questline but my dead is dead character went down quick at level 7.

I don't think there's a carriage to Winterhold. Damn ye, lack of investigation!

You can cut over a few mountains that have pathways and aren't overflowing with mobs if you travel north from Whiterun, and don't follow the roads. Then again, it may be safer to stick to the roads.

There may be bandits on the roads near Whiterun, though. I had to fight two chiefs and two normal bandits just outside the town.

I went there at level 4 or 5... of course I bought a ride there from the cart driver... getting back was... interesting.

Okay thanks for the input everyone. I guess I will take a carriage there. I was thinking of waiting till I quested my way there but that may take forever! I'm on "adept" AKA normal. I have died more than a few times -- i feel the challenge is decent. Are you guys playing on expert or what?

I went there as soon as I heard about it at level 2 and just walked there. It was great fun and I went over mountains and found all kinds of great stuff on the way. The introduction to the place has so far been one of my favorite parts of the game.

There are carriages in this game? Why did nobody tell me! I assume you find them outside cities? If not could somebody tell me where.

The carriages are outside the stables, just talk to the coachman (more like carts than carriages though)

It's more fun to walk everywhere the first time though!

I recommend walking, and make sure you swing by the Northern coastline along the way, and go down to the water, don't just look from a hill or mountain top. It was the first time in the game where I was truly awestruck by the vistas (not that the earlier parts were exactly lacking in beauty), and it remains one of my favourite regions of the map (after 20 hours there's still plenty of the map I haven't seen though, including three of the major cities.

Just got there, and it was a pain. 30 mins of walking. Had to fight ice wolfs, frost trolls, and vampires (lol wtf)

I'm lvl 10 btw

Thanks for the help. I've been riding around on ma horse to explore so far So i'll probably stick with that.