The best routes around the Guadarrama mountains for the whole family
The mountains around Madrid, known as Sierra de Madrid, are under one hour away from the Spanish capital, the ideal place to unwind for a few hours, forget about the urban hustle and bustle and relax in a natural setting. The formula is simple: fresh air, long walks, transparent brooks and a delicious steak from the area to recharge your batteries in any of the excellent restaurants scattered around the Guadarrama mountains, the mountain range which reaches all the way to Ávila. Guadarrama National Park has a complete website which includes different routes which are suitable for families with children. Nevertheless, we have selected a few for you which are also fantastic for families due to their short duration and level terrain, as well as some for the more adventurous types.
Fuenfría
This route has the unique characteristic of passing through the only part of the road in good condition which used to go from Titulcia to Segovia, dating back to the 1st century AD. It starts in Majavilán (Cercedilla) and after 1.5 miles it leads to the Fuenfría mountain pass. All in all, a 4-hour walk.
La Pedriza
If this area is notorious for something, given away by its name in Spanish, it is for the impressive rock formations it has, mainly granite. For this reason, near here you can find the largest monument in the world built with this material: The Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. A special and popular feature for children on this route are the rocks which resemble animals, such as the seal, the tortoise or the pig. In this case, the route is 4.2 miles in length.
Valley of El Paular
Despite this route having a stretch on the road after leaving the Monastery of El Paular behind, this inconvenience is more than offset by the stunning views you can enjoy from the viewpoint of Mirador de los Robledos over the High Valley of Lozoya. Later, the route crosses a river through a small town before it returns to the starting point. The total distance for this route is 7.8 miles.
Categories: Madrid Deportes, Madrid Ocio
