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

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)

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