Rambling in the Sierra de Guadarrama - Mondalindo from Bustarviejo

A pleasant route that starts and finishes at the abandoned railway station of Miraflores de la Sierra. A gentle climb over the Cabeza Cristina to Cabeza Arcón gives a 360º view of the Sierra de Guadarrama and the southern plains down to the city of Madrid. The walking is easy enough, on grassy slopes and higher up on stony plateaus. The approach to El Pendón takes the easier and greener route behind the summit, although there are more direct routes clambering up the rocks if that gets your adrenaline going. The Senda Buford straddles the Cerro de los Canteros to pick up the stream Arroyo del Mosquil and follow it down to the railway. There are no trains on this disused section of the old Madrid-Burgos line, so it's easy to go back to the station at Miraflores de la Sierra.

A circular route that starts and finishes near the Convento de San Antonio, just outside the village of La Cabrera. There is usually enough space to park, and there are buses that go to La Cabrera from Madrid.

A circular route that starts and finishes at the car park Fuente del Cur in Miraflores de la Sierra. There's usually plenty of spaces in the car park and buses (725) run regularly from Madrid to the village.

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.

A circular route that starts and finishes at the small car park above the Palancares Reservoir in Soto del Real. On this route, you will cross multiple streams, some of them even several times. On your way, you'll enjoy the Hoyo Cerrado and El Hueco de San Blas.

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.

The Sierra de Guadarrama, north of the capital city Madrid, is part of Spain's Central Mountain System. The highest point is Peñalara, standing at 2,428 metres (7,966 ft) above sea level. This is a collection of walks that reveals the diverse nature of this range of mouintains, partly within a National Park, sometimes climbing to the highest peaks, sometimes meandering through the villages and valleys. Most routes are circular and many can be reached with public transport.

A circular route from the Tranco del Berrueco, into La Raja (a popular rock-climbing place, especially in the summer), along the GR-10 to the Gran Cañada in the Pedriza to find the Senda Maeso.This is the PR M-1 and is a real scramble through the rocks, typical Pedriza terrain, to reach the Cuatro Damas.From there, the route weaves through the rocky Peñas Sordas to reach the three mysterious pyramids.An easy descent to the forest track that borders the stream Arroyo de Santillana takes us past the Jaralón Youth Hostel and back to the car.