Rambling in the Sierra de Guadarrama - From Soto del Real to Parada del Rey

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This is a pleasant stroll up to the lower regions of the Sierra de Guadarrama. Once in the pine forest, the walk is pleasant and the gradients are comfortable as the route hugs the hillside until reaching the Parada del Rey. The route back to Soto del Real is pretty straightforward. A good distance to stretch the legs without any major climbs.

Details

n°91329231
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.97 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,392 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,382 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,888 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,002 ft
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Description of the walk

Start: The route starts and finishes in the village of Soto del Real where there are ample parking facilities. There are also buses (725 and 726) that stop there from the Plaza Castilla terminal in Madrid.

(S/E) Heading northwest out of the village, go past the old church and stroll through the Parque del Río (public park).

(1) Next to the infant school Gloria Fuertes, take the country lane past the public park known as La Cabezuela, with it's old water tank on the top of the hill. Cross over the Cañada Real Segoviana.

(2) Head up to the village's reservoir, Embalse de los Palancares.

(3) Continue heading north to reach the forest track Camino de la Peña del Madroño and the abandoned forestry building.
There are great views back down the route, with the city of Madrid in the distance on a clear day.

(4) The path enters the pine forest, keeping to the right of the stream and passing an old water outlet. After a couple of switchbacks, the route plainly heads east through the trees, coming out onto a wide forest track which is the Camino de Mostajo. Stay on this wide track, quite a pleasant stroll, crossing streams and generally following the contours. Keep right at a fork and look for a young holly bush that sits at the top of a stone staircase. Here is the spring Fuente de la Parada del Rey.

(5) Drop down to the pond that is a refuge for amphibians and cross the wide Cordel del Puerto (which is an old drove road) to reach the circle of oak trees known as the twelve brothers, Doce Hermanos. Head south then east to cross pastural ground and through the holly-oak forest known as the Monte de la Raya. Step onto the rocks at the Peñalosa viewpoint before going down to the tarmac lane.

(7) Turn right along the lane, which becomes an earthen track and continue southwest to reach the hermitage San Blas.

(8) The route is pretty straightforward all the way back to Soto del Real, passing the hermitage Nuestra Señora del Rosario before skirting the first houses by following the stream Arroyo Chozas. Cut left to enter the village and weave your way back to the start.(S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,002 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.31 - alt. 3,028 ft - Parque del Río
  3. 2 : mi 0.65 - alt. 3,068 ft - Cañada Real Segoviana
  4. 3 : mi 2.38 - alt. 3,602 ft - Embalse de los Palancares
  5. 4 : mi 4.04 - alt. 4,245 ft - Forest track Camino de la Peña del Madroño
  6. 5 : mi 6.83 - alt. 4,820 ft - Fuente de la Parada del Rey
  7. 6 : mi 8 - alt. 4,078 ft - Peñalosa viewpoint
  8. 7 : mi 8.43 - alt. 3,881 ft - Right at the tarmac lane
  9. 8 : mi 10.38 - alt. 3,671 ft - Capilla de San Blas
  10. S/E : mi 13.97 - alt. 3,002 ft - Car park

Notes

Just after (5), the route does not align with a designated path on the map. The path does exist and can be followed as recorded

Other walks in the area

Walking Rambling in the Sierra de Guadarrama - Soto del Real to Manzanares el Real

Association / Club / Walk leader
Rambling in the Sierra de Guadarrama - Soto del Real to Manzanares el Real
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⚑Departure from Soto del Real (Community of Madrid)
A challenging route due to the length, but not complicated technically. Although it finishes in a different place to where it starts, there is a bus that connects Manzanares el Real to Soto del Real (720). The Pedriza is an area popular with walkers but especially with rock climbers.

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Association / Club / Walk leader
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⚑Departure from Manzanares el Real (Community of Madrid)
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↔9.24 mi ↗+2,251 ft ↘-2,260 ft ◔6h 15 ▲Moderate
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Association / Club / Walk leader
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⚑Departure from Miraflores de la Sierra (Community of Madrid)
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Association / Club / Walk leader
↔4.40 mi ↗+2,123 ft ↘-2,100 ft ◔3h 50 ▲Moderate
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Association / Club / Walk leader
↔5.06 mi ↗+2,113 ft ↘-2,126 ft ◔4h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Manzanares el Real (Community of Madrid)
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Walking Rambling in the Sierra de Guadarrama - La Pedriza - Puente de los Poyos

Association / Club / Walk leader
↔6.36 mi ↗+1,991 ft ↘-2,008 ft ◔4h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Manzanares el Real (Community of Madrid)
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