The weekend is approaching and in many people’s minds, it is probably already being prepared.or some are considering leaving home. Whether it’s grabbing a snack with friends, going to the movies with your partner, or going to an amusement park with kids, taking advantage of the free time to do something different from the daily routine is an option that many consider.
Another generally interesting activity at this time of year is to visit some natural space. In autumn, especially, mountains and forests are among the most beautiful environments as they transform their colors and go from green to yellow, ocher, reddish or orange.
If you are looking for a getaway or a tour of this type, without being too far from Madrid, below we leave you a destination where you can enjoy an excellent vibrantly colored chestnut forest. In addition, it is perfect to do with family and children.
The chestnut grove of El Tiemblo
Considered by many to be a magical place, the Castañar de El Tiemblo is one of those forests that completely change colors in autumn, which is why it is today the perfect time to visit in all its splendor.
It is about an indigenous and ancient forest which has chestnut groves dating back hundreds of years ago and where there is abundant wildlife such as wild boars, squirrels, mice and other types of animals. Due to its deciduous nature, the chestnut tree presents reddish, orange and yellow tones that make the landscape a real spectacle. One of the jewels of the forest is Grandfather’s Chestnut Tree, a tree almost 20 meters in circumference that has existed for centuries.
Chestnut grove of El Tiemblo
This is located in the Iruelas Valley Natural Reserve, in the province of Avilaand belongs to the commune which is part of the name of the chestnut tree, The tremor. To visit it, there is a hiking route of low difficulty, marked and with stops prepared to enjoy the landscape, always respecting the environment and without taking chestnuts, since they are wild and serve as food for native fauna and no to man.
How to get to Castañar de El Tiemblo?
To get from Madrid to the forest that we recommend, you can do it in two ways, either by car or by public transport:
By car
You must take the A-6 from Madrid towards A Coruña and follow the AP-51 to Ávila, from where you will have to take the -501, known as the swamp road, and follow it to reach the municipality of El Tiemblo. The journey takes one hour and fifteen minutes and you will have to cover approximately 83 kilometers.
On public transport
If you choose to leave the car aside, the way to get to the quake is to take a bus from Príncipe Pío station, more precisely, you have to take bus 523 PºArroyomolinos-E Polígono Industrial 1 to Madrid-Batan, where you will take bus 551 El Tiemblo. Bus station. After an hour and a quarter you will have arrived at El Tiemblo, but to get to the chestnut grove it is recommended to have a car or hire a taxi.
Whether you arrive by car or bus, the El Tiemblo Town Hall website explains that the entrance to Castañar is controlled in autumn due to the large flow of public. For this reason, car pick-ups are permitted at 8:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., allowing only 50 vehicles to board at most. There are also bus trips that go up at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The cost of going up by car is 6 euros plus 2 per occupant, while by bus it costs 2 euros and it is advisable to reserve the pass through the website castanar.eltiemblo.es. If you go up on foot, it’s free.
