During this walk we will enjoy the beauty of Abantos, created by the efforts of the men and women who worked on the reforestation.

In 1892 began the transformation of a rocky and treeless mountain into a magnificent pine forest with leafy corners and beautiful walks. It was the first scientific reforestation in Spain, carried out by Miguel del Campo, a professor at the School of Forestry Engineers, then located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

The reforestation of Abantos was a real feat and had to overcome great challenges and difficulties: degraded soils, summer droughts and insect pests. It laid the foundations for Spanish forestry, was a laboratory for species and planting techniques and trained generations of forestry engineers.

1. 1. 1. ARCA DEL ROMERAL
         Next to the dam built in the time of Alfonso XIII, to supply the incipient summer colony, is the ark of the Romeral stream, a primitive and original water supply and filtration system.
      2. MIGUEL DEL CAMPO PARK
         In April 1892, repopulation began here. Years later, in 1929, it was inaugurated as a forest park in homage to Miguel del Campo, the engineer behind the project. Today it is a lush forest with a multitude of tree species: lime trees, chestnut trees, Spanish firs and century-old poplars.
      3. NURSERY OF LOS GALLEGOS
         The name of this path, known as “Camino de Los Gallegos”, comes from the workers who travelled from those lands to Castile to take part in the harvest. At this point, you can enjoy a little trip back in time.
      4. THE VIEWPOINT OF LOS ALERCES
         Here you can enjoy a peculiar grove of two species that are rare to see in Madrid: beech and larch trees. As an experiment, they were introduced in Abantos by the Escuela de Montes, and today it is one of the many peculiarities that make our walk exceptional.
      5. LUIS CEBALLOS ARBORETUM
         The arboretum has 250 species of trees and shrubs native to the Iberian Peninsula, Balearic and Canary Islands. The centre carries out a great work of environmental education, organising courses and activities for adults and children.
      6. LOS LLANILLOS
         Miguel del Campo had the most important nursery of the mountain built in this recreational area. Today it has a unique elm tree, a survivor of graphiosis, which the forestry engineers planted in the 19th century.
      7. THE VALLEY LINE
         From here we can contemplate the famous historical fence of Felipe II, the stone wall that perimetered his domains, as well as enjoying beautiful views of the forest of La Herrería, and the mountains of Las Machotas, the peak of El Fraile and Los Tres Ermitaños.
      8. STREAM OF THE HELECHAL
         This stream rises just above the Luis Ceballos arboretum, and carries its waters to the Infante reservoir (18th century). This part of the mountain, El Romeral, was also repopulated by Miguel del Campo at the beginning of the 20th century after the success of his first steps.
      9. THE HORIZONTAL
         On this section of our route, we will enter the Abantos-Romeral Sur neighbourhood. This neighbourhood, integrated in the forest itself, is testimony to the first constructions of summer houses for the rest of the Madrilenians.
      10. EUROFORUM FELIPE II AND THE SCHOOL’S HEADQUARTERS
          We encourage the walker to conclude this peculiar route by visiting the headquarters of the Escuela de Montes in c/Floridablanca, the location of the first Casa de Oficios in the time of Felipe II (16th century) and today, the Casa de la Cultura of the municipality.

This track begins at the resting point close by the Seat of Felipe II. From here the route follows a forest trail which is closed to traffic.

The area through which this route runs is part of the Natura 2000 Network, as it belongs to the “River Guadarrama Basin” Area of Special Conservation Interest. The natural and landscape status of La Herrería remains intact thanks to its National Heritage listing, which meant that it was not sold off in the Confiscation of Crown Assets in the final third of the 19th century.

Four quite distinct habitats may be found along the route: thermophile woodlands of ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), Galician-Portuguese oak glades (Quercus robur and Quercus pirenaica), sweet chestnut woods (Castania sativa) and gallery forests of white willow and white popular (Salix alba and Populus alba). It also crosses through the Monastery and Site of El Escorial, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.

The route begins at the Tourist Office (1). Walk along Calle Grimaldi and you will see the magnificent Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (1563-1584) directly up ahead. Head through the wall marking the edge of La Lonja. To the right are the buildings which enclose it: the First and Second Houses of Offices (1587-1596), the House of the First Secretary of State and the Third House of Offices (1785-77), with the House of the Prince and the Queen opposite (1770-1776). On the parapet of the wall around La Lonja, a plaque commemorates the meridian traced by Luis Ceballos Medrano in 1905 (2), supplemented by another to the left of the entrance to the Monastery (3). An imaginary line between the two points due north, indicating that the Royal Monastery is not perfectly aligned with the points of the compass (12° north-east declination).

Opposite the House of the Company (1590-1597), now the Escorial – María Cristina Royal University Centre, it is connected to the Infirmary by a building made up of Arches (4) beneath which stands the entrance to the Friars’ Garden (free entry, closed on Mondays). Further along a viewing platform (5) offers outstanding views of the Royal Monastery, the Garden, the Market Gardens and the Lake. The skyline of the city of Madrid can also be made out on a clear day.

Alongside the viewing platform a bronze statue of Felipe II (6) invites visitors into the Adolfo Suarez Park – RCU Escorial-María Cristina (closed on Mondays), home to a Virginia juniper (7) and to horse chestnut trees over a century old (8), registered as outstanding heritage trees of the Region of Madrid (RM). Leave by the gate opposite and cross Paseo Carlos III with great care. The line of horse chestnuts will lead you to the two columns (9) at the entrance to the La Herrería area, declared a Picturesque Landscape Site in 1961, along with the Abantos Pine Woods.

Head down the slope of the Cuesta de los Pastores, and at the first fork take the path to the right as far as the Fuente del Seminario (10), Seminario Spring, one of the numerous stone springs dug below ground level that dot La Herrería. Here you will find an information board featuring the distinctive local bird life and a small tourist office with a number of panels providing an insight into La Herrería (accessible during opening hours).

A blue arrow marks the path leading to the beautiful love tree (11) at the intersection with Cuesta de los Pastores, which you should follow until it crosses over the stone bridge, from where you will see a line of plane trees (12) and to your right the La Herrería Royal Golf Club (13). A signpost (14) indicates the nearby Fuente de los capones (15), and a little further on the Pilgrims’ Cross (16) indicates that this point lies on the route followed by the cortège accompanying Our Lady of Grace, the patron saint of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, on the procession as far as the chapel dedicated in her honour.

At the bridge over the Arroyo del Batán watercourse (17) you can appreciate the diverse landscape of the gallery woodlands growing along its banks, including poplar, willow, ash, rosaceae species, brambles and hawthorns. The fence alerts you that you are now entering an area through which traffic flows on its way to the car park. Take care when crossing the M-505 at the zebra crossing (18). The highway forks at another Pilgrims’ Cross (19). Take the right-hand fork. There is a branch off to the left leading to the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace (20) with its own Spring (21). This is the site every second Sunday in September of the Pilgrimage of Our Lady of Grace, declared a Festivity of National Tourist Interest in 1988, at which the young people pay homage to their patron saint while dancing the ‘rondón’ to the rhythm of the woodwind ‘dulzaina’.

Follow the path that you arrived on as far as the main gate of the El Castañar estate (22), from where you will see the tree-lined promenade that runs almost all the way through. Within there is a 13th-century church dedicated to Our Lady of La Herrería, the patron saint of the municipality of El Escorial, who was relocated to the Church of San Bernabé at the end of the century before the building was destroyed in the era of Felipe II. Retrace your steps as far as the fence (23), which will now be on your left. The narrow track you should follow forks here (24). Take the left-hand branch which climbs gently uphill parallel to the wall of El Castañar, passing by a service entrance to the property (25).

Once you have reached the tarmac track (26), head left as far as the La Reina Spring (27), amid a wonderful stand of chestnut trees, including two notable examples on the RM heritage tree list (28 and 29), along with Montpellier maples and Pyrenean oaks closer to the watercourse that flows intermittently down the mountain. The adapted and accessible “Ecology Track” also begins here, running along the forest tracks as far as the Seat of Felipe II. Continue as far as a sign (30) opposite the famous ‘Hand Linden’ tree (31) behind the stone wall of El Castañar, missing two of the five branches which originally gave it its name.

Continue past the Dos Hermanos Spring (32) on the left, and the Bear Cave (33), guaranteed to fire the imagination of younger visitors. On the right a path (34) leads to a further fork, where you should continue alongside the fence. Here you will see the dry stone wall which continues along the right, marking the boundary of the Historical Territory of Felipe II, declared a Site of Cultural Interest by the Regional Government of Madrid in 2006 and covering practically all of the municipalities of San Lorenzo de El Escorial and El Escorial. Follow the track on the left as far as the ruins of the Deaf Man’s House (35), a forest ranger’s residence from the 16th century. This spot offers fantastic views of the surrounding landscape and the next point on your itinerary: la Silla de Felipe II (36), the Seat of Felipe II, reached along one of the trails that end at this vantage point from which, as tradition has it, Felipe II observed how work was progressing on the Royal Monastery, and which recent studies suggest could have been a Vetton altar.

Head up the steps carved into the stone to take a photo of the wonderful panoramic views, and sit where Felipe II is believed to have kept an eye on the building of the Royal Monastery. Alongside stands a beautiful Montpellier maple with RM heritage status (37), and further on a huge granite boulder balancing atop another rock (38).

Head down through the dense woodland of Pyrenean oak (39), intermingled with Montpellier maple, juniper, butcher’s broom and flax-leaved daphne, passing by the Las Arenitas (40) and La Prosperidad Springs (41). The path will take you to the La Silla highway, which you will recognise. Cross back over the M-505 at the zebra crossing (42). After crossing the bridge over the Arroyo del Batán watercourse, take the right-hand branch at the fork (43), passing in front of the Hostel of Santa María del Buen Aire (44). Take the little path leading off to the right, and across the wooden walkway into an area lightly wooded with ash (45) and Pyrenean oak, along with shrubs such as sloe, hawthorn, bramble and wild rose. Off the path to the left you will see a majestic ash tree, with RM heritage status (46). Continue as far as Calleja Larga. You will pass by the Guard House (47) on the left, and on the right a concealed gravestone which forms part of the wall of the House of the Heir Apparent (48).

At the end of Calleja Larga you will arrive at the entrances to the Copse of the Royal Monastery (49) on the left, which is not open to the public , and the delightful little House of the Heir Apparent on the right, with its park and courtly gardens (50). On the way towards the Royal Monastery stop off at the small balcony (51) offering a view of the King’s and Queen’s Gardens, before finishing the route.

This route begins at the San Lorenzo de El Escorial Tourist Office.

1. Leave La Lonja via the Arcos de la Compaña arches. Enjoy spectacular views of the Garden and the Kitchen Gardens of the Friars, as well as the lake and the majestic weeping willow which stands over it. This was originally one of the two oldest springs to be found here, the Blasco Sancho or Estribo Spring, alongside what is now known as the La Reina Fountain, previously named the Matalasfuentes. Horse chestnuts line the way.

2. Continue along the Paseo de Carlos III as far as La Herrería (declared a Picturesque Landscape Site in 1961, and a National Heritage property) through the entrance with its two columns: this slope is known as La Cuesta de los Pastores. Head down past the “Zarco” news stand to the right, with the Seminario Spring alongside. Along the way you will see a love tree (a species which blossoms early with spectacular pink flowers).

3. You will then reach the Golf Course, and opposite the Youth Hostel of Santa María del Buen Aire. This part of La Herrería is lightly wooded with ash trees. Continue alongside the golf course fence among majestic plane trees. Just before arriving at the Pilgrims’ Cross, a detour heads off to the Los Capones Spring.

4. The path descends as far as the Arroyo del Batán gulley before reaching the M-505 junction, which should be crossed with care.

5. The tarmac track leads directly to the Seat of Felipe II: there is a shortcut along the paths leading off from behind the picnic area, to the left. You will also pass by the La Prosperidad Spring to the left. On the right is the Chapel of our Lady of Grace. Alongside stands a lone Scots pine, listed as an Outstanding Heritage Tree of the Madrid Region. The Las Arenitas Spring is up above.

6. There is a magnificent stand of Pyrenean oak here, dotted with cherries, wild pear, common spindle, sloe, oneseed hawthorn, dog rose, bramble, wild plum, elder, privet, ivy, honeysuckle, fern, willow, hazelnut, crab apple… A great place for bird spotting.

7. The Seat of Felipe II offers spectacular panoramic views. There are outstanding examples of Montpellier maple, in particular an upright specimen alongside the steps carved into the rock, given Outstanding Heritage Tree status by the Madrid Regional Authority. Red-rumped swallows are a common sight in this section.

(1) We leave from the fountain called Fuentenueva, next to the Guadarrama road (M-600), beside the housing development called Urbanización Felipe II. It was built by Fernando VII in 1815 and it is close…

(2) …to the refuge and natural resources centre, the Albergue Centro de Recursos Naturales. We are surrounded by magnificent specimens of ash, willows, elder, wild plum, European ash, elms, blackthorn, poplar and honey locust. The private gardens of the area serve as a refuge for blackbirds, robins, reed warblers, coal tits, blue tits, warblers, etc. There is a panel containing bird information located close to the building named the Casa del Polvorín, which can help us to identify the birds we see. This section of transition between the pine wood and the holm oaks is used by azure-winged magpies to pass from one ecosystem to another.

The route begins on a path that ascends parallel to the right of the stream called Arroyo del Barrancon and reaches the area of the Polvorín (a levelled area where we leave on the right the wall that goes up to the peak, the Pico de Abantos, and the stream). Here we can see a large part of the mountainside that was burnt in the summer of 1999, which is currently being reforested and regenerated.

On the left is the recreational area of El Tomillar, made up of a pine forest boasting maritime pine and stone pine, together with small holm oaks, tree of heaven (ailanthus altissima), cypress trees and false acacia with its characteristic twigs of white flowers, known popularly as “pan y quesitos” or bread and cheese. Among the bushes, we find white broom, scotch broom, broom, phillyrea angustifolia and flax-leaved daphne, together with other small plants. This is a good area to spot European golden orioles, booted eagles and buzzards.

The path comes out on to the paved forest trail, keeps going for 50m. and turns to the left at the Finnish pass (we can see a mass of Pyrenean oak, an example of the vegetation which used to dominate these slopes). In spring and summer, we can see a multitude of European bee-eaters flying over the area. The pine forest alternates with open areas where we can find short-toed treecreepers, Bonelli’s warblers, European serins, chaffinches, rock buntings and many coal tits. All these sights are mixed with the sound of the azure-winged magpies flying from one tree to another. The path levels out, passing by the stream called Arroyo de la Cruz and further on…

This route runs from the El Malagón resting point as far as the Cañada Real Leonesa droving track.

Section A

The route begins at the highest point of town, to the west. Begin by following the instructions to reach the Euroforum Felipe II, without actually going that far.

Head up to Calle de la Presa, and continue as far as the wall of the El Romeral dam, where the path begins. At this point the highway turns sharply to the right and a narrow  track begins, leading to the curious viewing platform of the Rural House over the El Romeral dam.

The wall you will see by the modern dam states that it is the work of Juan de Villanueva, built during the reign of Carlos III.

Only a few traces remain of the original dam dating from the time of Felipe II. At the centre traces of another wall belonging to the dam built in the era of Alfonso XIII may be seen.

The path runs through woods of black pine (Pinus nigra) and cedar (Cedrus atlantica) tucked between the fence of the dam and the remains of the Great Royal Enclosure surrounding the royal estate. The path can easily be recognised by the red and white markings of the GR-10 (Long Distance Path), which you will see in several sections of the route.

You will very shortly arrive at the La Teja Spring Park or Miguel del Campo Forest Park, created in 1929. Considerable bird life can be spotted in this area, such as the noisy great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major).

A little further up, beneath the cuttings, is the Currutaca Spring, with a ruined building nearby.

In 1892 the Special School of Rural Engineers began work in this area to replant the slopes of the Monte de la Jurisdicción.

Continue along the path running parallel to the El Romeral watercourse, passing by the little valley with the two springs and water channels to the left.

Continue heading gently uphill among the dense woods of oak (Quercus robur), maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), linden (Tilia platyphyllos) and the occasional cherry tree (Prunus avium).

This will take you to a forest track which heads down to the highway. Cross over and look for the trail which continues as far as a little gate in the metal fence. Here you will find the Cordel del Valle forest track, which is in fact a branch of the Cañada Real Leonesa livestock droving route, leading to the path up to the San Juan de Malagón Pass. This short section can also be walked along the granite slabs covering the water distribution channel which feeds the reservoir. This curious pathway is lined with dense, thorny shrubs such as bramble (Rubus ulmifolius) and sloe (Prunus spinosa). A little further on and you will see the entrance to this channel, around 50 cm wide, and one metre in depth below ground.

Section B

The route continues along the path to the left for some 30 metres as far as the water channel connection boxes, from where a track heads directly uphill. Follow this upwards through an eroded section, heading towards the large rock. Further on you will reach a fork marked by a wooden stake, where you should take the right-hand branch.

This track runs through cluster pines as far as the highway, having passed through a fenced area known as the “Galician nursery”.  Plantations of cherry trees can be seen. This is all that remains of a small market garden area, some of them granted to the forestry agents for their own use, with the trees being planted on banked terracing. Continue along the path as far as an area recently replanted with pines and holm oaks.

You will arrive straight away at the highway close by the La Concha Spring. The path continues straight ahead, following the electrical power lines as far as the resting point and the San Juan de Malagón Pass. In this area the trees are mainly Scots pine, with a few willows, brambles and wild rose bushes alongside the watercourses. Continue along the highway to the left, heading towards the house, and you will reach the Luis Ceballos Arboretum. If you decide to take a breather at the La Concha Spring before embarking on this last section of the route, you will need to head downhill and to the right along the highway.

Before arriving you will see a path off to the left along with a sign warning of the risk of fire, leading to a spot where there is a large beech tree (Fagus sylvaticus), Spanish firs (Abies pinsapo), and even European larch (Larix decidua). Above the La Concha Spring the silhouette of two giant Spanish firs dominates the vista. All these species were introduced in replanting schemes in bygone days. The surroundings are the result of the transformation of the natural vegetation over many years. The original flora might perhaps be represented by a stand of Pyrenean oak (Quercus pyrenaica).

This sunny spot is also perfect for holm oak (Quercus ilex subsp. Ballota), which grow as high as these altitudes alongside the other species typical of mountain holm oak woodlands (supra-Mediterranean). This is nonetheless the upper limit for such distributions. The Arboretum therefore contains saplings of Pyrenean and holm oak, as the livestock cannot strip them thanks to the fenced enclosure, alongside such ligneous species as labdanum (Cistus ladanifer), laruel-leaved rock rose (Cistus laurifolius), broom (Genista florida), Spanish broom (Cytisus scoparius), Spanish lavender (Lavandula stoechas subsp. Pedunculata), flax-leaved daphne (Daphne gnidium), holy flax (Santolina rosmarinifolia), common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. Badia), dog rose (Rosa canina, R. micrantha), bramble (Rubus ulmifolius), etc.

Meanwhile, alongside the Arca del Helechal watercourse, the only stream to run through the Arboretum, grey willow (Salix atrocinerea) and ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) grow spontaneously, their branches forming a magnificent arboreal canopy.

Opposite the entrance to the Arboretum, at the end of the car park, a track also heads off up the slopes towards the El Malagón Pass. This is the old Peguerinos track, serving as an alternative route to the resting point and the San Juan de Malagón Pass.

The resting point is at the summit of the pass, at an altitude of 1,537 m, in a clearing dotted with mountain broom. From here there are magnificent views over the El Tobar reservoir and the mountains of the Sierra de la Paramera, the final slopes of the Sierra del Guadarrama, with Alto de Cartagena and its wind farm particularly prominent. In the distance are the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos: Cerro Guisando, Cabeza de la Parra, and on a clear day you can even see the peaks of the central Sierra de Gredos, with La Galana and El Almanzor the highest points.

Section C

The return route follows the highway as far as the path leading to the environmental education centre and the Los Llanillos picnic area. This is a very shady setting, featuring some outstanding plane trees, chestnuts, maples and other species. The particularly notable tree, however, is an elm (Ulmus laevis), well over a century old and standing more than 23 metres in height, with a 16-metre diameter canopy.

Cross the cattle grid and continue along an almost horizontal track, heading constantly westward as far as a relatively unmarked track off to the left, which will take a little care to spot.

As a guide, count around one hundred metres from the point at which you leave the highway towards Los Llanillos. The path widens and the marking stones disappear. It is here that the trail begins. A little further on there is a round stone beneath a pine on the left of the track: you should not go beyond this marker.

Section D

This track drops sharply down between pines and holm oaks in a zigzag, locally known as “the zeds” or “the seven switchbacks”.

As you leave the woods you will see a track. Continue along it to the left, slightly uphill, following a stone wall and a wire mesh fence around the hunting estate. The flora in this area is made up of scattered shrubs and meadowland.

You will then reach a junction with two gates, and should head through the left-hand one. The route continues along the track running parallel to the fence, which will bring you back to the starting point.

 (1) Begin at La Lonja. As you skirt the enclosure you will see on one of the slabs the plate recalling the line of the astronomical meridian through the Royal Site, courtesy of Luis Ceballos Medrano in 1905. Through the arches of the Arcos de la Compaña head right and upwards along Avenida Conde de Aranda, and then take Calle Pinar.

(2) A few metres further on an unsurfaced road leads off to the left up to the La Bola Spring. The woods in this area are of Austrian pine. The street emerges alongside the Romeral Dam. Here there are swifts and house martins to be spotted, while above the mountains fly rough-legged buzzards, booted eagles, and, very occasionally, pairs of Bonelli’s eagles. The route along the left-hand bank leads to the Rural House. Continue along the wire fence to enter the Miguel del Campo Park, built in 1929, through which the Romeral Gully flows.

(3) The park contains the La Teja and La Curruca Springs. It is home to a great many species of tree, including Atlas cedars, prickly junipers, numerous sycamores, old linden trees with characteristic longitudinal cracks in their bark, cherry, horse chestnut, Spanish fir, young elm and chestnut trees, old poplars… Among the undergrowth you may startle a wren, or a Cetti’s or Dartford warbler. You might hear the cackle of a green woodpecker, or see the occasional jay.

(4) Leave the park along a track running parallel to the Arroyo del Romeral watercourse, and continue as far as a water tank at a bend on the road. A few metres further on and you will reach an unsurfaced forest track – head along this and look for the path with the distinctive red and white GR-10 hiking trail marking on the right. The distinctive species found in Abantos here comes to the fore: the black pine or Austrian pine. It is accompanied by different types of broom, labdanum, thyme, flax-leaved daphne…

The path follows these markings across the highway, where you will see the 19th-century terracing of the land for the pine tree plantation. A number of thorny species of rosaceae may be seen here, such as sloe, oneseed hawthorn, dog rose (its red rose hips commonly known as “bumstoppers” because of their astringent properties) and bramble. Throughout this section you will see plenty of pinecones eaten by squirrels (leaving only the tip), holes dug by wild boar as they root for food, and the droppings of mammals such as foxes, stone martens and the like.

Higher up the cluster pines give way to umbrella pines with their distinctive orange bark, the predominant species from this point onwards. At this altitude you may see stands of laurel-leaf cistus (Cistus laurifolius), which can be distinguished from the labdanum by its broader, ridged leaves. There are also ferns, species of broom, thyme and holy flax.

Continue up along a track dotted with scattered stands of Pyrenean oak, holm oak,  Montpellier maple, and at the base of the valleys, willow and ash. During the summer the branches of the last of these are populated by the caterpillars of Abraxas pantaria L., devouring the leaves and hanging from fine threads of silk.

(5) Without crossing the watercourse of the Arroyo del Romeral, head up towards the Cervunal Spring. It owes its name to the “cervuno” (Nardus stricta, or matgrass), a species of mountain grass surrounding the spring, along with hedgenettle. Swifts and housemartins fly overhead.

A little higher up, take the path leading to Abantos from the highway. Head off from the highway to the left, near to where the route back begins: the Camino de los Gallegos, or Galician Way. The track ends on the right at the little house known as the Telegraph, as it was used for this bygone system of flag communication.

(6) You can either continue that far, or turn around a little before on the left and climb up to the peak of Abantos. Flying up above the granite outcrops are plentiful crows, jackdaws, carrion crows and if you are lucky, as they are quite secretive, you may see the odd blue rock thrush.

Behind the weather station right next to a wall is the stone enclosure that Felipe II ordered to be built around his domains. It measures forty-six kilometres in length, and between nine and twelve feet in height. The flora here comprises broom dotted with wood rush and other grassy species, commonly home to long-tailed, jewelled, and Iberian wall lizards. It is not unusual to see common kestrels, common buzzards, booted eagles, and more infrequently a Bonelli’s eagle or goshawk. The flora provides shelter for foxes, rabbits and wild boar, and the marks they make as they burrow and root for food can quite easily be spotted in the area.

(7) A path descends as far as the Snow Shaft Pass. You will arrive at a wire fence marking the provincial boundary between Madrid and Avila, which you should cross to reach another gate in the Felipe II Enclosure, leading to a snow shaft built in the era of Felipe III, which was in use until 1934 and was restored in 1985. Heading back to the track alongside the Enclosure you will reach the summit of Alto de San Juan (with views over the Cross of the Valley of the Fallen and Cuelgamuros). Here you will see the jumping points or ramps installed by Carlos III to allow animals through.

(8) Lastly, head down by the La Naranjera shelter, surrounded by copses which are home to great tits, nuthatches, treecreepers, long-tailed tits, jays, as well as the other species mentioned previously. Flying overhead you may see griffon vultures, as far as the Las Negras Spring. It was here, in Pinares Llanos, where in the spring of 1848 Professor Mariano de la Paz Graell Agüera, a resident of San Lorenzo, described for the first time a wonderful (and now protected) butterfly which he gave the name Graellsia isabelae Graells, in honour of Queen Isabel II of Spain. From this point, take the tarmac track heading down to San Lorenzo. As you pass over the Arroyo del Tobar watercourse, you will see the Ark of San Juan on your left.

(9) The track you are following now merges with the path from Cervunal Spring and continues as far as the Malagón House, where the remains of a snow shaft may still be seen. At the far end of the bend leave the tarmac surface and in a few metres you will reach…

(10) …the Galician Way (and the Trampalón Spring). This route offers amazing biodiversity, with its larch trees and a beech copse. Head downhill and cross the highway, as far as the Cordel del Valle track. Continue across and through a gate alongside an electricity pylon, following the wire fence as far as the El Romeral Dam. Head down alongside the El Romeral Ark as far as Avenida del Conde de Aranda, flanked by horse chestnut trees where the route began, before returning to La Lonja.

We leave the stone forecourt of the Monastery, the lonja (2). As we walk around the edge of the lonja we can see, in the flagstones surrounding it, the plaque that recalls the line of the astronomic meridian (3) at the Royal Estate, created by Luis Ceballos Medrano in 1905. We walk through the stone archway, the Arcos de la Compaña (4), then turn to the right and go up the avenue Conde de Aranda and continue along calle Pinar.