Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Ruckus View Post
I don't think it's been said, or even implied, that they're going farther north. There's really not indication where they're going. I think everyone is assuming they are going south to escape the WW's and get Bran to the wall.
GRRM has said several times we'd go farther North this season. Bran needs a place to hide out and explore his greenseer powers. He needs the power of the weirwoods for that. That isn't Winterfell. If he goes back there, he'll be too busy with the mundane, distracting stuff to focus on learning how to harness his powers. They'll find another cave or something to hide in.

Again, you have to think big picture. Who wins the Iron Throne or rules Winterfell is pretty meaningless in the grand scheme of the story. It's fun to talk about, but it won't matter if when the Others/WWs show up they can't be defeated and wipe Men from existence.