# Sunday in Patones: an introduction to climbing, lunch in Patones de Arriba and the Pontón de la Oliva

Four hours of beginner climbing on the Patones crags, lunch in the black-slate village and the old Pontón de la Oliva dam at sunset.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/sierra-norte/itineraries/intro-to-climbing-and-ponton · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 08:50 · Salida: 1 h by car (via the A-1 and Torrelaguna to Patones de Abajo)
- 10:00 · Introductory climbing and abseiling in Patones (climbing and abseiling introduction · 4 h · €45 · book with PlanetSport) · PlanetSport Multiaventura, From €45 per person
  - 5 min by car, 2,7 km
- 14:30 · Las Eras Restaurant (charcoal grill and migas · €€ · open until 17:00) · Las Eras Restaurant, €€
  - 3 min on foot
- 16:15 · Patones de Arriba, the black slate village (walk around the slate village)
  - 12 min by car, 7,4 km
- 17:30 · Pontón de la Oliva Dam (10 min by car towards Valdepeñas de la Sierra)
- 18:30 · Vuelta (You reach Madrid around 19:30)

Patones is the easiest adventure Sunday north of Madrid: the limestone crags of Patones de Abajo are a classic climbing school, and up above, five minutes away, the black-slate village has somewhere to eat late. You finish at the Pontón de la Oliva dam, in the Lozoya gorge.

## The day, hour by hour

8:50 · Set off. From Madrid, an hour on the A-1 and Torrelaguna. From Guadalajara, a little under an hour.

10:00 · Introduction to climbing. With PlanetSport, four hours on rock in Patones de Abajo: equipment, basic progression and belaying techniques and an abseil. €45 per person on their website, from age 6 with an adult, minimum group of four. Book a date on their calendar. Bring mountain footwear, water and something to eat.

14:30 · Lunch at Las Eras. At the top of Patones de Arriba, with a terrace over the village: grilled meats, sautéed vegetables, migas. Open until 17:00 and dogs are welcome. Book on 91 843 21 26.

16:15 · Patones de Arriba. A stroll along the cobbled streets, a Site of Cultural Interest since 1999. If you left the car below, the weekend shuttle runs until 19:00.

17:30 · Pontón de la Oliva. Ten minutes by car: the 19th-century ashlar dam between the Lozoya cliffs.

18:30 · Head home. An hour to Madrid.

## Without climbing

If you do not fancy rock, swap the morning for a walk along the Lozoya bank from the Pontón and eat earlier, at El Rey de Patones, the village's first restaurant, open since 1970.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
On the A-1 and Torrelaguna. Cars cannot enter Patones de Arriba: park at the entrance or in Patones de Abajo and take the shuttle up.

## Consejos

### Book the climbing in good time
The introduction needs a group of at least four: if there are two of you, ask which dates already have a group.

### Bring warm clothes
In the afternoon, in the Pontón gorge, it gets cool.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Do I need experience for the introduction?
No: it is beginner level and from age 6.

### How much does the day cost?
Between €80 and €110 per person, with the climbing, lunch and petrol.

### Can you go with a dog?
To the village, the restaurant and the Pontón, yes; for the climbing, they do not say.