As terras a leste (e norte e sul!) de Bree foram selvagens e indomáveis por milênios. Eles eram as terras selvagens que estavam além do conhecimento dos Shire-Hobbits
Além do ocasional Brandybuck ou Bree-hobbit, e do estranho aventureiro Took, na verdade eram apenas os Anões que se dirigiam para as Montanhas Azuis e Rangers como Aragorn que usavam a East Road a oeste de Bree.
Dwarves had always used [the East Road] on their way to their mines in the Blue Mountains. They were the Hobbits' chief source of news from distant parts - if they wanted any: as a rule dwarves said little and hobbits asked no more.
--- The Shadow of the Past (The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 2)
"How far is Rivendell?" asked Merry...
I don't know if the road has ever been measured in miles beyond the Foresaken Inn, a day's journey east of Bree," answered Strider... "But I know how long it would take me on my own feet, with fair weather and no ill fortune: twelve days from here to the Ford of Bruinen."
--- A Knife in the Dark (The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 10)
Não havia simplesmente nenhuma razão para alguém ir para o leste de Bree.
O Reino do Norte de Arnor tinha sido destruído mais de mil anos antes da Guerra do Anel, e seu povo já havia sido legado aos moradores de Bree e do Condado; apresentando apenas ditos meio lembrados como
quando o Rei retorna para um evento improvável.
Bree stood at an old meeting of ways; another ancient road crossed the East Road just ouside the dike at the western end of the village, and in former days Men and other folk of various sorts had travelled much on it. Strange as news from Bree was still a saying in the Eastfarthing... But the Northern Lands had long been desolate, and the North Road was now seldom used; it was grass-grown and the Bree-folk called it the Greenway.
--- At the Sign of the Prancing Pony (The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 9)
Na verdade, (além de Bree) não havia assentamentos de homens a menos de 500 quilômetros do Condado. Os Dunedain patrulhavam as terras selvagens que outrora fora Arnor, mas não contavam histórias de suas façanhas em Bree - falavam dos velhos tempos ou traziam notícias de longe.
In those days, no other Men had settled dwellings so far west, or within a hundred leagues of the Shire. But, in the wild lands beyond Bree there were mysterious wanderers. The Bree-folk called them Rangers... when they appeared they brought news from afar, and told told strange forgotten tales which were eagerly listened to
--- At the Sign of the Prancing Pony (The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapter 9)
Eu suspeito que isso é tanto por causa de como eles foram percebidos na cidade, e também não havia nada a ser ganho contando aos Breelanders sobre os perigos que se escondiam nas terras vazias que os rodeavam