the Saint Blas hollow

A classic route in one of the calmest areas of the Serra de Madrid mountain range

To get to Buit de Manzanares, you go start on the GR-10 path on the bank of the Santillana reservoir, a true paradise for waterlife.  Some of the nature hides allow you to enjoy watching this unseen.

When you arrive at Devesa Boyal or Prado Herrero, you have to turn left and carefully cross the busy road which links Soto del Real with Manzaneres.  The tour goes northwards between stone walled meadows and ash, oak and cork oak woods.  On the left, you can see the beauty of the intricate rock formations of la Pedrosa, as the path gradually goes deeper into the Buit de Sant Blas hollow.

Once you've left the Palancares reservoir behind, you will get to a barrier which doesn't allow vehicles to continue and so, lets us enjoy the solitude of the surroundings.  The slopes are planted with wild and laricio pine trees, while the lowers parts are ash tree groves and meadows and you will also see farm buildings typical of the traditional way of life here.  The sheep pens, sheepcotes and barns are linked by a maze of pathways.

After, riding around the valley, you start the descent to the Miraflores de la Serra village.  After riding on a small path through an area of houses, you take the path that goes through the Roureda d'Arriba or Raya oak wood.  If you pay attention you will hear the non-stop sounds and bird songs of the oak wood.  The recreative area of Fuente del Cura is a magnificent place to take a break under the shade of the majestic oak trees.

If you decide to continue, you go into Miraflores de la Serra, a beautiful mountain town which offers a wide range of services and from where we begin the return journey to the Burricleta Centre.  A steep descent to the river Guadalix allows you to join the GR-10 and to ride between the meadows of Arriba and Abajo.  This path was used by the Carthusian monks to go to the Paular monastary.

From the Sant Blas chapel, located next to the path, you can enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of Turó de Sant Pere, the town of Soto del Real, the Pedrosa or Santillana reservoir, El Buit de Sant Blas and La Najarra.

A bit further on you find the Palancares reservoir where you take the path you were on at the beginning and this takes you back to Manzaneres el Real on the same route.