Guided path through the Hayedo de Montejo

A riverside beech forest beside the River Jarama, on the border with Guadalajara, which forms part of the 'Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe', declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It lies within the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve, about 100 km from Madrid. The Community of Madrid considers it a highly sensitive protected natural area, so it admits only a limited number of visits a day, always guided and free.

The three paths

The beech forest is walked with a guide along one of three itineraries, all following the course of the Jarama: the viewpoint path, the hillside path and the river path. Each has its own departure times, which you see when booking. The river path is the simplest and the only one that can be done in a wheelchair, for roughly its first kilometre: the ground is earth with small stones and roots, the streams are crossed on wooden walkways and there are benches at intervals. The slope at the entrance, however, does not meet accessibility requirements.

During the visit you may not leave the marked paths or pick plants, leaves, mushrooms or fruit. In October and November the beeches turn ochre and reddish, and that is when passes are most in demand.

How to get the pass

The visit is free, but always with a pass. There are two ways:

• Online booking, on the Sierra del Rincón website. The system opens on the 1st and 16th of each month at 9:30 and places are allocated by draw after a five-day window, from the 1st to the 5th and the 16th to the 20th.
• In-person pass, handed out the same day at the Reserve Information Centre, at Calle Real, 64, Montejo de la Sierra, about 8 km before the beech forest.

Online passes must also be collected in person at that centre, at least an hour before departure: for the 10:00 path, at 9:30, when it opens; for the afternoon ones, before 14:30, because the centre closes at 14:45. Those not collected are cancelled and go on sale in person. Children count in the booking, except babies carried in a backpack. It is best to arrive at the beech forest 10 to 15 minutes early.

It is closed on Mondays, or the first working day of the week, and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 and 6 January. Dogs cannot enter, except assistance dogs with their documentation.

Schools, associations and employment workshops book separately, by phone, in groups of up to 60 people from Tuesday to Friday morning.

Getting there

By the A-1 to kilometre 76 and the M-137 towards Prádena del Rincón and Montejo de la Sierra. First you stop in Montejo, for the pass, and then continue to the beech forest. Information on 91 869 70 58 or at [email protected].

What to combine

The information centre in Montejo has a permanent exhibition on the natural and cultural heritage of the Sierra del Rincón, with models, dioramas and an ethnographic collection; while you wait for your path time, it is worth it. On the way back to Madrid, the A-1 passes Buitrago del Lozoya: its wall and Picasso Museum are also closed on Mondays, so the good day is Tuesday to Sunday.