Bus 724 Madrid – Manzanares el Real

Line 724 links the Plaza de Castilla interchange with Manzanares el Real and El Boalo, and is the way to reach La Pedriza without a car. It is operated by Herederos de J. Colmenarejo and, according to the Transport Consortium timetable, takes about 45 minutes from Madrid to Manzanares el Real. In the village it has several stops.

Route

It leaves Plaza de Castilla, stops next to the La Paz and Ramón y Cajal hospitals, continues along the M-607 and passes through Colmenar Viejo before entering the sierra via Soto del Real and Manzanares el Real; it then continues to El Boalo, Mataelpino and Cerceda. The early-morning services leave Plaza de Castilla at street level, not from the underground interchange.

Times for a same-day round trip

On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, departures from Plaza de Castilla are at 8:00, 8:30, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 11:40, 12:30, 13:15, 14:05, 14:50, 15:40, 16:30, 17:15, 18:00, 19:00, 19:45, 20:30, 21:30, 22:15, 22:50 and 23:30. For a long walk one of the first three is best, arriving at Manzanares around 8:45, 9:15 and 9:45.

On the return, at weekends and public holidays they pass through Manzanares el Real towards Madrid, among others, at 15:30, 16:15, 17:00, 17:55, 18:45, 19:25, 20:00, 21:10, 21:55 and 22:30. On weekdays there are departures every half hour for much of the day. On Friday and Saturday nights and the eves of public holidays there are also early-morning services.

These are approximate passing times: check them at crtm.es before setting out, especially on Sundays. The company can be reached on 91 000 41 11.

From the bus to La Pedriza

From the stop by the church or the one at the Montañero roundabout it takes about 15 minutes on foot to the La Pedriza Visitor Centre, along the path parallel to the track. The centre is open every day from 9:00 to 15:00 and is a good place to ask about routes and path conditions.

Without a car, the classic entrance to La Pedriza is on foot: the Camorza gorge starts near the visitor centre and runs to Canto Cochino, where the route to El Tolmo begins. Walking has an advantage: you do not depend on the quota of 270 cars at the Canto Cochino car park or on the barrier, which at winter weekends does not let cars in from 10:30 to 16:00.

Other lines

Line 720 links Colmenar Viejo with Collado Villalba via Manzanares el Real, useful if you come from the western sierra or from the Colmenar Viejo Cercanías.

What to combine

In the same village, the Manzanares el Real castle is the visit for the afternoon if you come back early from the mountain. For lunch, see La Reunión or the Hostel La Pedriza.