The mountains on Madrid's doorstep – 7 trails in Cercedilla

When Spaniards think of Madrid, they think of Castile and the vast expanses dotted with windmills described by Cervantes in Don Quixote. And yet, the high plateau that makes up the centre of Spain – the Iberian Meseta – isn’t as flat as you might think. It’s split in two by a long mountain range, the Central System, which runs from Portugal to just north of Madrid.

The part of the mountain range that borders the Spanish capital is called the Sierra de Guadarrama. Its superb rocky peaks offer magnificent views over the plains that stretch for many kilometres around. In this Collection, I invite you to discover the main peaks of the massif on seven trail routes.

The first loop is short and gentle, serving as a warm-up. The next four are around 20 kilometres (12 mi) long and cover more difficult terrain. The sixth 36-kilometre (22 mi) route climbs the difficult and marvellous Maliciosa peak. Finally, I present the Maratón Alpino Madrileño route, an emblematic race in the Spanish calendar that takes place every year in Cercedilla.

The town of Cercedilla is the base camp for this Collection; every route starts and finishes here at the foot of the massif. It’s the only town in the Sierra de Guadarrama linked to the Spanish capital by train (line C8 of the Cercanias network). Combined with the many restaurants and shops, it's an ideal base for exploring this mountain range on foot. You can also do the routes one at a time, leaving Madrid in the morning and returning in the evening.

Between each adventure, you can restock your supplies at the shops in the centre. All of the loops take several hours to complete because of the mountainous terrain. On the longer routes, refreshments are available at Puerto de Navacerrada and Puerto de Cotos.

You can enjoy this Collection throughout most of the year. However, avoid travelling in winter when there’s too much snow and ice. This can be dangerous when running in an alpine environment.

Remember to dress according to the weather. A hat and windbreaker are usually essential. The peaks can be cold and the sun can be harsh at any time of the year. Take a GPS watch or smartphone with you so you can follow the track as the paths are not always well-maintained.

With the exception of the first loop, all the others are aimed at experienced runners who are familiar with technical mountain routes. Near Cercedilla, the paths are fairly easy, but as you get higher up, the gradient becomes significant and the terrain is mainly alpine. Skyrunning enthusiasts are in for a treat. So, lace up your grippy trail shoes and have fun hurtling down the rocky slopes of the Guadarrama Sierra.