Valdemanco: Mondalindo, Lagoon and Hiking Trails

Valdemanco is located in a small mountain valley enclosed by the Sierra de la Cabrera and the peak of Mondalindo. The peaks reach an elevation of 1,838 m, and the Arroyo Albalá is the town’s most important stream.

Nature

The seasonal Laguna de Valdemanco, also known as El Carrizal, is a wetland in a semi-endoreic depression formed by the erosion of weathered granite. Laguna Carrizal is known for the diversity of amphibians that live there. Access to this wetland is via a footpath from kilometre 3 of the M-610 to the lagoon.

Hiking

There are five main hiking trails around Valdemanco. The hiking route from Valdemanco to Navalafuente is signposted. For your own planning, you can consider the trails around Valdemanco and the signposted route to Navalafuente separately.

This means that different focuses can be combined when planning a day in Valdemanco: seasonal nature observation at the lagoon, trails in the surrounding municipality, historical references along the Cañada Real, insights into artistic techniques, and customs held on set dates. You can use these different focuses for your personal day planning.

Culture

The Cañada Real Segoviana crosses the municipality of Valdemanco from east to west along the slopes of Mondalindo as far as Puerto del Medio Celemín. Parts of the Huellas de la Historia and El Camino de los Pastores routes run along it.

The Berrutti Foundation offers tours of its painting, sculpture, ceramics and engraving workshops and explains the techniques used there. It combines its art activities with a natural setting; visitors can observe the landscape as well as the native flora and fauna of the Sierra Norte.

El Mayo takes place from the night of 30 April to 1 May. A tall tree, usually a poplar, is selected, felled and erected in the village square, where it remains throughout May. Valdemanco’s carnival tradition centres on La Vaquilla; it is organised by the Quintos of the respective year and includes a costumed procession through the town.

You can focus on hiking trails, nature observation, workshop techniques or seasonal customs.

More destinations in the overview: Arganda Del Rey, Humanes De Madrid, Majadahonda, Los Molinos, Robledo De Chavela, Algete, Manjirón and Moralzarzal.

When choosing your accommodation, travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions are separate details. Nature, hiking trails and culture, on the other hand, describe the different aspects of the town and help you assess it personally when planning your own trip.

Getting There

Intercity bus route 725 connects Madrid (Plaza de Castilla) with Miraflores, Bustarviejo and Valdemanco. The Plaza de Castilla interchange connects the intercity buses on route 725 to Valdemanco with Madrid’s metro and city bus network.

For the overarching travel overview: Madrid.