EXCURSIONS AND ROUTES IN THE SIERRA NORTE OF MADRID
Astonishing places and incredible greens, practically virgin landscapes, solitary places where silence, water and intact vegetation are the protagonists. This is the unknown Sierra Norte de Madrid, also known as “the Sierra Pobre de Madrid”, a magical corner of incredible nature, where you can go on routes and excursions to get lost in a weekend, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. In this guide we propose several excursions and activities to enjoy with the family, in this beautiful corner of the Sierra de Madrid.
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Join us, on a journey of discovery through the senses, to the most unknown corner of Madrid: La Sierra Norte de Madrid, just over an hour from Madrid.
1 The best kept secret of the Sierra Norte de Madrid: Sierra Rincón, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Once known as “Sierra Pobre de Madrid” it is, however, the richest mountain range in Madrid, if we refer to its beautiful and intact nature.
UNA SIERRA RESERVE OF THE BIOSPHERE BY UNESCO IN THE SIERRA NORTE OF MADRID
A sparsely populated natural paradise in the Sierra Norte de Madrid, rich in natural species and experiences in contact with them, it is one of the least known places in Madrid: Sierra Rincón was awarded UNESCO Certification in 2005, for the good work in harmony and respect for the natural environment for centuries, by those who have always inhabited it.
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With only 5 small municipalities, Sierra del Rincón (this extraordinary corner to the north of the Madrid region) has managed to be among the 500 privileged world places, recognized, awarded and protected by UNESCO, as Biosphere Reserves, thanks to its sustainable relationship of man with nature.
In Sierra del Rincón we will enjoy the solitude of the biodiversity of the great natural spaces of the Sierra Norte de Madrid, but also of simple traditional towns and villages, which have been preserved intact for hundreds of years.
Small stone and slate villages with sloping roofs with traditional chimneys, wood-burning ovens, stone bridges, and mills and forges that do not seem to be affected by the passage of time and look practically the same as they have since the Middle Ages, due to their isolation: They are villages with charm of Madrid.
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As a curiosity, note that Sierra del Rincón, in the Sierra Norte de Madrid, is one of the most uninhabited places in Spain, even in Europe, with a population density (according to our guide), even lower than in Lapland.
The Sierra del Rincón is located between the Ayllón and Somosierra massifs and marks provinces with Guadalajara and Segovia, just over an hour from Madrid, a mountain range full of charming rural houses, cabins and rural hotels, near Madrid.
THE 5 VILLAGES OF THE SIERRA DEL RINCÓN FOR AN EXCURSION TO THE SIERRA NORTE FROM MADRID:
The five municipalities that form it are: La Hiruela, Horcajuelo de la Sierra, Montejo de la Sierra, Prádena del Rincón and Puebla de la Sierra. Beautiful towns, near Madrid, to make a weekend excursion.
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Pretty towns very close to Madrid.
There are many nature and hiking routes, of different levels of difficulty, that allow you to explore these traditional villages in the Sierra Norte de Madrid. And there are them for all tastes and audiences: for families with children, for adventurers, for people with disabilities…
We made a route that combined several paths, starting from the beautiful town of La Hiruela and forming part of the Carpetanía Network of Paths of the Sierra Norte de Madrid: one of the perfect routes to do as a family that we propose: From here you can consult different nature routes and paths of La Hiruela.
Guided by the river Jarama, we were able to follow a beautiful circular path that, with all its spring splendor, allowed us to walk among birch, hazel, and cherry trees, until we reached the Oak Forest, trees with imprints on which charcoal was practiced and with whose charcoal It supplied the palaces of Madrid and the smithies for centuries.
They are fairytale landscapes, among large maples, century-old oaks and brilliant mosses, which seem to want to devour everything, giving the landscape a touch of “enchanted”, like those we imagine in Tolkien’s fantastic novels.
The route ends with a climb up the mountain, from where we will have breath-taking panoramic views of the mountains and the surrounding valleys of the Madrid and Guadalajara mountains, where the main protagonist is silence: A privileged balcony overlooking dreamlike landscapes that you can enjoy with this excursion in the Sierra Norte de Madrid.
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The wonderful landscapes of the Sierra Norte de Madrid: A place to breathe tranquility….
Finally, do not forget to visit the beautiful apiary of La Hiruela, with a certain mystical and mysterious touch and who knows if it is inhabited by fantastic beings…. 🙂
Honey is a product that forms part of the diet of the Sierra Norte de Madrid which, thanks to its botanical variety, has great market value.
Thus, in the towns of the Sierra Norte de Madrid we can find honey of varieties as rich as rosemary, thyme, sage, heather and rockrose, among many others.
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2 The Hayedo de Montejo: Natural Heritage of Humanity of the Sierra Norte de Madrid
The Hayedo de Montejo, one of the southernmost beech forests in Europe and the nucleus of the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve, holds great treasures inside.
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The Hayedo de Montejo, one of the southernmost beech forests in Europe and the nucleus of the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve, holds great treasures inside.
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We were lucky enough to visit it in autumn, the best time to see it, when the beech trees that inhabit it experience an explosion of red, ocher, orange and yellow colours, which make it especially beautiful.
Twisted beech trunks that seduce and captivate the traveler and another of the best excursions in the Sierra Norte de Madrid, to enjoy the sounds and colors of nature.
How to book the guided tours through the Hayedo de Montejo in the Sierra Norte de Madrid
The visits are guided and reservations must be made, either by phone or through its website.
In autumn, it must be reserved well in advance, due to its high demand, and because visits to the Hayedo de Montejo are limited.
Without a doubt, the Hayedo de Montejo is one of the natural jewels that must be seen in the Sierra Norte de Madrid.
RECOMMENDED: 4 VILLAGES IN THE NORTH SIERRA OF MADRID TO DISCONNECT FROM THE CAPITAL
3 A walk through history through war bunkers in the Sierra Norte de Madrid
THE “WATER FRONT” ROUTE IN THE NORTH SIERRA OF MADRID
The Frente del Agua route is a journey through the history of the most recent war in our country: a hiking route that starts from the town of Puentes Viejas, in the settings of the Sierra Norte de Madrid.
These lands witnessed the defense, during the Civil War, of the Port of Somosierra and the Puentes Viejas and El Villar reservoirs, vital for the water supply to the city of Madrid during the war.
In an environment of great scenic beauty, we will be able to admire the highest concentration of warlike structures in a natural environment, both Republican and Falangist.
On the excursion you will also be able to see machine gun nests, trenches, bunkers and command posts, all of which can be visited through easy routes in this part of the Sierra de Madrid, of great historical and cultural interest.
It is a simple guided route through the Sierra de Madrid, for all ages and that can be done perfectly with small children or babies in strollers.
It is carried out by Sedella Naturaleza and you have all the information on prices and schedules by clicking on this link.
OTHER RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES IN THE NORTH SIERRA OF MADRID
Activities for children in the Sierra de Madrid: Bird ringing
Banding is a scientific method of studying bird populations and consists of placing a metal ring on the bird’s leg to contribute to its study and conservation.
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It is a very interesting activity to enjoy with the family and children in the Sierra Norte de Madrid and learn a little more about the life, biology and customs of the birds that visit our country.
We were able to enjoy it in La Cabrera, where once a month and in collaboration with the Innovation Center of the Tourism Sector of the Sierra Norte de Madrid “Villa San Roque” scientific bird ringing activities are carried out.
There we learned about migratory movements, about the typology of the most common birds in the Sierra Norte de Madrid, we attended how they are weighed, scientifically classified, wings are measured, their health and state of plumage is observed, and how the Scientists study their different behaviors.
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We were able to observe the ringing process of a sparrow, a common blackbird and a beautiful green. The type of ring that is placed on each bird is already stipulated by the Ministry. It was a curious experience and from which we learned a lot.
It is an excursion that we recommend especially for families with children: a science class surrounded by nature in the Sierra Norte de Madrid, very instructive; where, in addition, once the ringing and classification process is completed by the biologists, they will be able to release the birds and return them to their natural habitat.
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More information about Enara and its nature workshops by clicking here: Enara Environmental Education and Bird Banding.
PRACTICAL DATA TO PLAN A GETAWAY TO THE SIERRA NORTE OF MADRID AND ITS VILLAGES
HOW TO GET TO THE NORTH SIERRA FROM MADRID?
The Sierra Norte is located to the north of the Community of Madrid and the best way to get to it is by the A-I Highway, leaving from Madrid.
If your goal is to focus on the beautiful Sierra del Rincón, there are two ways to access this protected natural area:
Take the exit at kilometer 76: Take the M-137 highway until you reach Prádena del Rincón, the entrance municipality to the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve.
Take the exit at kilometer 85: Take the M-141 road, towards Horcajo, until you reach Horcajuelo de la Sierra, the entrance town to the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve.
WHERE TO EAT DURING AN EXCURSION TO THE NORTH SIERRA OF MADRID?
The Sierra Norte de Madrid offers many possibilities as far as local gastronomy is concerned. The mountain gastronomy, one of the most traditional in Madrid, presents us with rich local specialties.
From the most traditional dishes based on traditional stoves, to more innovative dishes, fused with typical products of these lands: for all these reasons, this region, to the north of the Community of Madrid, is a fantastic destination for lovers of good gastronomy.
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Panoramic view of the El Atazar Reservoir, in the Sierra Norte of Madrid
Among the most outstanding products are: legumes, the unbeatable flavor of its meats, river fish, tasty vegetables and mushrooms, its rich wines and delicious honey, a delight for the palate.
Among the restaurants that we were able to visit during our journey through the Sierra Norte de Madrid and that we recommend, are the following:
El Picachuelo Restaurant
A beautiful place with unbeatable views over the Atazar Swamp. There we were able to taste excellent local wines and dishes, linked to the countryside, presented in a modern and innovative way. Location here.
Casa Aldaba Restaurant
Located in the pretty town of La Hiruela, it is a restaurant that serves homemade cuisine with rich local specialties. We tried the migas, the ribeye and the garden salad. Also noteworthy are the land beans, cooked with vegetables and black pudding: very tasty.
If there is something for which the Sierra Norte de Madrid stands out, it is for its tranquility. The little towns in this corner of Madrid offer an environment of nature and silence, perfect for resting and disconnecting from the daily routine.
In our case, we stayed in the rural houses El Bulin de Piñuecar, in the town of the same name (you can see photos, data, and opinions by clicking on the name).
Some charming complete rural houses that are very close to Madrid, fully equipped and perfect for getaways with friends or family.
And if you are looking for more options, do not miss our blog guide to 8 charming rural accommodation in the Sierra de Madrid: you will like it.
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