La Reunión, mountain bar and restaurant
What to order: croquettes and barbecued Sierra de Guadarrama chuletón
geocalia
Day itinerary · 40.74° N · 3.88° W
Sunday in La Pedriza: granite in the morning, a castle at sunset.
Enter Canto Cochino before 10:30, climb the Autopista de La Pedriza to El Tolmo, have lunch in the square at Manzanares el Real and finish at the Mendoza castle.
Leaving from
Part of Manzanares el Real and La PedrizaThe Central System
Add to my trip
Total time8 h
By car45 min each way
Walking5.8 km · 2 h
BarrierClosed 10:30 to 16:00 in winter
DifficultyMedium
Cost€25–45 pp
Best timeOctober – May
With a dogYes, on a lead
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Madrid 45 min by car
via the M-607 and the M-608 to Manzanares el Real
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1
From Canto Cochino to El Tolmo
pass the barrier before 10:30 · 5.8 km return · 2 h
- 11 min on foot
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2
The River Manzanares and the Charca Verde via the Vivero bridge
a while by the river before going down; no swimming
- 12 min by car7 km
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3
La Reunión, mountain bar and restaurant
croquetas and T-bone steak · €€ · terrace on the square
Plaza del Pueblo, 12, local 1, 28410 Manzanares el Real · +34 918 53 03 17
Restaurant €€Book - 5 min on foot
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4
Mendoza Castle of Manzanares el Real
from the outside, beside the Santillana reservoir
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Back home
You reach Madrid around 18:30
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
From Canto Cochino to El Tolmo
Sunday in La Pedriza depends on a barrier: from October to May, at weekends, cars are not allowed into Canto Cochino between 10:30 and 16:00, and the car park has a limit of 270. So you arrive early, walk in the morning and go down to the village for lunch while everyone else is still looking for a space.
The day, hour by hour
8:45 · Set off. From Madrid, about 50 minutes on the M-607, M-609 and M-608. From Segovia, over the Navacerrada pass and through Collado Villalba, an hour.
9:45 · Canto Cochino. Get through the barrier before 10:30 and park: it is free.
10:00 · El Tolmo. Along the Autopista de La Pedriza, beside the Ventana and Dehesilla streams, to the best-known isolated rock of the massif. 5.8 km there and back and about 2 hours; the Park rates it for experienced walkers because of the terrain.
12:30 · The Manzanares river. Back at Canto Cochino, stroll along the riverside path towards the Charca Verde. Swimming is forbidden.
14:00 · Lunch at La Reunión. The mountain bar on Plaza del Pueblo: croquettes, sierra chuletón on the barbecue, a car-free terrace. According to its website, it opens from 12:00 on Sundays; confirm by phone.
16:30 · Manzanares Castle. From outside, next to the Santillana reservoir: visits to the interior are suspended.
17:30 · Head home. About 50 minutes to Madrid.
If you arrive late
With the barrier closed, park at the visitor centre and walk in through the La Camorza gorge, an easy 4.9 km to Canto Cochino past the Castillo Viejo and the Manzanares waterfalls.
Distance5.8 km
Time2 h 5
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Hostel La Pedriza Bar-Restaurant
What to order: the dish of the day or a sandwich for the mountain; there are always vegan options
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Manzanares el Real and La Pedriza
From October to May. In summer the barrier only lets cars in from 7:00 to 9:30 at weekends and the granite burns.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Call the visitor centre
On 918 539 978 they will tell you whether there is still space.
- 2Wear grippy soles
Polished granite is slippery, especially going down.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is the walk to El Tolmo difficult?
It is not long, 5.8 km there and back, but the Park classes it for experienced walkers because of the terrain of boulders and stone steps.
Can you go with a dog?
Yes, on a lead and staying on the path.
How much does the day cost?
Between €25 and €45 per person: parking is free and what you pay for is lunch and petrol.
Can you see the castle inside?
No, visits are suspended.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/la-pedriza/itineraries/el-tolmo-and-manzanares-castle
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.