That's an interesting topic. Anyway, as to what's been said, I think you can rule the North out: Deadman's Dike had bad reputation only because of the Breelanders' superstition. Gandalf told Butterbur that Rangers are regularly visiting the place, and he said it in a way that did imply rather a pilgrimage to a place bringing sweet memories of forgotten realm than to some haunted dungeon.
The words about "freezing one's heart", to me, imply something more than just "regular" brigands or wild animals (wolves etc.), but it could be Trolls or something like that, although I really doubt that they will be one day's march from Bree.
Actually, there is this thing during Barliman's discussion with Gandalf when the Hobbits are returning home. Barliman says:
Quote:
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For there's been worse than robbers about. Wolves were howling round the fences last winter. And there's dark shapes in the woods, dreadful things that it makes the blood run cold to think of. It's been very disturbing, if you understand me.
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So basically, I think this quite corresponds with the above. Are the "dreadful things" the thing that Gandalf mentioned earlier at the Council? Then they are not robbers nor wolves - Barliman mentions those two separately from the "dark shapes". So is that what we are looking for? Somehow, it does not seem fit to me that the Barrow-Wights would awaken and roam free in the woods - they always seemed to me more like bound to one place. And somehow I do not believe that just the Rangers would stop them. But would they? Who knows.