# An autumn Sunday in El Escorial: La Herrería forest and El Castañar

An 8.6 km route through ash groves, chestnut woods and fountains of the royal forest to Philip II's Chair, a Castilian roast at an inn from 1768 and the Jardín de los Frailes. 50 minutes from Madrid.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/san-lorenzo-de-el-escorial/itineraries/autumn-in-la-herreria-and-el-castanar · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 09:00 · Salida: 45 min by car (via the A-6 and the M-505, about 50 min; or buses 661 and 664 from Moncloa)
- 10:00 · La Herrería, El Castañar and the Silla walk (leaves from the tourist office · 8.6 km · 2 h 45 · via the Cuesta de los Pastores and the Fuente de la Reina)
  - 15 min on foot
- 13:00 · Philip II's Seat through La Herrería (the view of the monastery from the rock; back to the village in 45 min along the forest road or by taxi)
  - 6 min by car, 4,9 km
- 14:15 · Mesón La Cueva (Mesón La Cueva, on Calle San Antón · Castilian cooking · €€ · booking) · Mesón La Cueva, €€
  - 6 min on foot
- 16:30 · Friars' Garden and its viewpoint (terraces and pond below the monastery · 30 min · free)
- 17:15 · Vuelta (You reach Madrid around 18:15)

The La Herrería forest, at the foot of the monastery, is a royal woodland of ash, oak and chestnut trees that Patrimonio Nacional has kept whole since Philip II. In autumn it turns yellow, and the route suggested by the San Lorenzo tourist office crosses it through its four types of woodland, goes round the El Castañar estate and climbs to Philip II's Chair, the rock from which, tradition says, the king watched the building work. Then, a roast at an 18th-century inn.

## The day, hour by hour

9:00 · Set off. From Madrid, via the A-6 and the M-505, about 50 minutes. Without a car, buses 661 and 664 leave from the Moncloa interchange and take about an hour.

10:00 · La Herrería and El Castañar. You set off from the tourist office, pass the Jardín de los Frailes viewpoint and enter the forest by the columns of the Cuesta de los Pastores. The path continues past the Seminario fountain, the Romeros cross and the Batán stream, goes round the wall of El Castañar to the Fuente de la Reina and climbs past the Tilo de la Mano and the ruin of the Casa del Sordo. It is 8.6 km, about 2 h 45, of medium difficulty. In October and November, the chestnut-grove stretch is the best.

13:00 · Philip II's Chair. The view of the monastery in the middle of the forest. It is about 45 minutes on foot back to the village; if you are short of time, call a taxi.

14:15 · Lunch at Mesón La Cueva. The former Posada de las Ánimas, from 1768, on calle San Antón, two minutes from the monastery's Lonja. Castilian cooking of roasts and home-made tarts. On Sundays it opens at midday; closed on Mondays. Book.

16:30 · Jardín de los Frailes. The terraces, vegetable gardens and the pond under the south façade of the monastery, with the La Herrería you have just crossed at your feet. Half an hour, free.

17:15 · Head home. In Madrid around a quarter past six.

## What to order

A Castilian roast, lamb or suckling pig, and a home-made tart. If the cod days coincide, try it.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
A-6 and M-505, about 50 minutes from Madrid. Park in the village and start on foot from the tourist office.

### Without a car
Buses 661 and 664 from the Moncloa interchange to the San Lorenzo bus station, five minutes from the monastery; about an hour. Check the Sunday timetable with the Consorcio de Transportes. The route starts from the centre of the village.

## Consejos

### Take the tourist office map
There are many junctions in the forest; the route has its names in the leaflet.

### Dog on a lead
It is a woodland with livestock and very busy on Sundays.

### Shoes with a sole
Wet chestnut leaves are slippery on the descents.

## Cuándo no ir

In heavy rain: the path turns to mud. Stay at the monastery and leave the route for another Sunday.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does the route take?
8.6 km and about 2 h 45 to the Chair, plus the return to the village.

### When is the forest at its prettiest?
In October and November, with the chestnut and ash trees yellow.

### Can you do it without a car?
Yes: buses 661 and 664 from Moncloa, and the route starts in the centre of the village.

### Do I have to pay?
The route and the Jardín de los Frailes are free. You only pay for lunch.