Wonders of Camino Natural of the Valley Lozoya by bicycle. Madrid

Self-guided Cycling Tour

Departure days: Everyday

Duration: 4 days – 3 nights

The Camino Natural of the Valley, a path completely conditioned for hiking and clycletourism practice, crosses the totality of the high valley of the Lozoya. An easy and smooth route that travels entirely by tracks, with the constant presence of the Lozoya River.
The Lozoya valley, perhaps, in strict sense, the only one of the National Park of Sierra de Guadarrama, is confined between the long mountain range of Montes Carpetanos and another range with similar altitude that splits in its central part, Cuerda Larga. The succession of elevations of more than 2000 m that surround the valley, form a spectacular landscape, a natural mosaic composed of riverside woods, pine forests, oak, ash and holm oak groves, which show the diversity of ecosystems that characterizes the nature of the Sierra Norte de Madrid.
Lozoya Valley has been a place of retreat for religious, nobles, painters and poets and remained practically isolated until the early XX century. The valley contains a valuable artistic and monumental heritage, composed of hermitages, monasteries, historical bridges or walls and a beautiful ethnographic heritage represented by dry stone walls, fountains, water holes or in the popular architecture of its villages. As more significant examples, the path shows authentic artistic gems such as the monastery of Santa María del Paular, set in an environment of exuberant nature, the bridges of el Perdón and el Congosto or the wall and castle of Buitrago del Lozoya.

Protected natural spaces: Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.

Highlights:

• The Paular Monastery
• The Rascafría visit
• The Lozoya River walk along the banks
• The visit to the walled enclosure of Buitrago de Lozoya
• To know the Picasso Museum of Buitrago
• The Sierra Norte of Madrid gastronomy