Less than an hour from Madrid, there’s a place where summer means shade, coolness, and the silence of the forest: the Bosque de la Herrería, at the foot of the Monastery of El Escorial. It is a vast, free green space, protected by National Heritage and part of the Natura 2000 Network, which is every bit as good as the region’s other large parks, but with oak and chestnut trees and picture-perfect meadows.
The Bosque de la Herrería is located in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, sheltered by the Machotas mountains and very close to the Royal Monastery, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For centuries, it served as a royal hunting ground and an area of royal orchards, which is why it has been preserved as an Atlantic forest of exceptional scenic and ecological value within the Community of Madrid.
A true oasis of coolness
If the Retiro is Madrid’s great urban green space, La Herrería is its mountain counterpart: a wooded valley where the temperature is several degrees cooler than in the capital and where the dominant sounds are those of birds and the water in the streams. The trails wind through chestnut, oak, and ash trees and past large rocks covered in moss and lichens, with areas of pastureland where the sun filters through the treetops and shadier spots ideal for settling down with a picnic.
That mix of dense shade and open clearings makes it avery welcome outingon hot days. You notice the drop in temperature as soon as you get out of the car after driving from Madrid, because the air is more humid and cooler, especially first thing in the morning and late in the afternoon. It’s literally a change of scenery in less than an hour’s drive.
Things to do: hiking trails, viewpoints, and chapels
The Bosque de la Herrería is perfect for easy hiking trails, many of which are suitable for children. One of the most popular trails connects the forest with the Silla de Felipe II and the Virgen de Gracia Chapel.
- The “Silla de Felipe II” trail is about 4 km (round trip), takes about 3 hours at a leisurely pace, and combines forest, history, and spectacular views of the monastery from the famous granite viewpoint where, according to tradition, the king supervised the construction work.
- Another option is to follow the GR-10 trail markers, which cross the forest and allow you to extend your walk toward El Castañar or the Fuente de la Reina area, with centuries-old ash trees and very photogenic spots.
Along the route, you’ll come across landmarks such as the Virgen de Gracia Chapel, the Fuente de la Reina recreational area, and small streams where you can cool off (but don’t swim, as it’s not an authorized swimming area). All of this is set in a very well-preserved environment thanks to vehicle access restrictions on most of the trails.
How to get there from Madrid
By public transportation, you can take the Cercanías train (line C-3a to El Escorial) and then walk or take a local bus to the monastery area and connect with the trails from there; however, to make the most of the day and move around freely, driving is the most convenient option.
Admission to the Bosque de la Herrería is free: there are no fences or ticket booths, just signage and a few informational panels, but you must respect the rules of a protected area (no open fires, no littering, and no straying from marked trails in sensitive areas).
