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The Natural Way
The Natural Way is an exceptional route that crosses the Alto del Lozoya Valley joining its main population centers: Garganta de los Montes and its hamlet El Cuadrón, Lozoya del Valle, Pinilla del Valle, Alameda del Valle, Rascafría and its Oteruelo district. Although it can be done in the desired direction, the road starts from Puente del Perdón and ends at the Tourist Office of El Cuadrón. As it passes through Alameda del Valle, it presents a branch that ascends to the Hermitage of Santa Ana.The Camino consists of a main route and six branches as complementary routes. A whole network of routes that offers visitors the chance to get to know the southern slopes of the Sierra de Guadarrama and discover the charms of a valley "dotted with hidden hermitages among centuries-old pine forests, the constant presence of the Lozoya River and a rich biodiversity in the that highlight species as threatened as the imperial eagle (Aquila adalberti) or the Graellsia, a nocturnal butterfly unique in the world ".
Branch to the Hermitage of Santa Ana
From Alameda del Valle to the Puente del Perdón
From Alameda del Valle to El Cuadrón
Branch to the Hermitage of Santa Ana
The Route to the Hermitage of Santa Ana is one of the six branches of the Natural Way. Whether starting from Alameda or making the way from Rascafría or El Cuadrón, we have the possibility of ascending to this beautiful enclave in which to enjoy spectacular views in the shelter of the Hermitage and from where to contemplate the massif of Peñalara and the beauty of the Serrano landscape.
To carry out this route from our town, we must first follow the indications of the Route to the Hermitage of Santa Ana. Once there, we either undo what we walk, or we make a circular route passing through Oteruelo del Valle, enjoying a beautiful rebollar, crossing a small bridge with a Canadian pass, passing through a rest area and reaching the end of the Real street of the neighboring district. From there we will go to Alameda del Valle following the main route that connects both towns in a journey of just two kilometers.
From Alameda del Valle to the Puente del Perdón
This cozy walk begins on the Natural Way as it passes through the Church of Santa Marina. From there we go to Oteruelo del Valle (hamlet of Rascafría) a beautiful journey of about 2 kilometers between meadows, cows and horses. Crossing this small town, we return to the main route to walk between meadows and trees, crossing the urbanization "Los Grifos" for a pleasant walk among ash and hazel trees, crossing the road of Puerto de la Morcuera (M-611) and passing the Cemetery until you reach Rascafría.
Once there, we continue through the interior of the town to connect again with the Natural Way and thus get into the last section of the route that will lead us to the Puente del Perdón and the Monastery of El Paular in a stretch full of history that runs among centenary groves, farms and livestock meadows, passing by the ruins of an old school and a mall in which you can enjoy the quiet of the valley.
The return to Alameda from the Puente del Perdón can be done either by retracing our steps, or by the "Ruta de los Batanes", a beautiful route that passes next to El Paular Monastery, allows a visit to the nearby Giner Arboreto of Los Ríos and it leads us to Rascafría in parallel to the M-604 and ending a few hundred meters from the exit of the town, next to a bridge through which you can cross the Lozoya River and join the main route.
From Alameda del Valle to El Cuadrón
To go to El Cuadrón, we take the Natural Way as it passes through the Church of Santa Marina in the direction of Pinilla del Valle, for which we must cross Alameda and cross the Arroyo de la Sahúca bridge. At only 2 km. We will arrive at this beautiful village located at the foot of the reservoir, from where the branch "Ruta de la Ermita de la Concepción" departs. Continuing along the Camino Natural, on a beautiful path that goes through pollarded ash trees and then skirting the reservoir through a cozy corridor of centuries-old oak oaks, we reach Lozoya, where it is possible to make the "Route of the Hermitage of Fuensanta" branch.
Leaving Lozoya, returning to the main route, the walk continues along the reservoir to leave it later by a small asphalted section that gives access to the facilities of the dam, until you reach the medieval bridge of Canto or Congosto. Ascending in parallel to the Lozoya River and halfway up the slope, we reach the old bridge of Matafrailes, from where you can access the branch "Ruta de Canencia" that leads to the town of the same name.
Having already crossed the county road M-629 that ascends to the Port of Canencia, we take altitude until we contemplate the beautiful views of the valley and the Sequillo River reservoir. As soon as we reach Garganta de los Montes, we find the branch "Ruta de la Ermita de los Prados".
Leaving behind this beautiful town, we arrive at the hamlet of El Cuadrón, ending this beautiful path at the Tourist Office of El Cuadrón.
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