Mirador del monte Abantos — Attraction in San Lorenzo de El Escorial

We left the Valley of the Fallen and drove back down the hill to our other stop before we reached Madrid, Mirador del monte Abantos. From the photos, this Mirador gave fantastic views over the El Escorial Palace so we naively followed the sat nav, initially through the town on roads like the ones you see on the car chases in San Francisco, very very steep hills with a junction at the top and no place to stop and a moron behind trying to get in your boot. Eventually this led on to a forest road marked "Residents Only" (but in Spanish) but hey, the Google reviews said people had driven here so off we went. After a hair raising, or stubble raising in my case, climb through the mountains we reached the viewpoint.

We dutifully took a couple of pictures, did a 9 point turn and then drove down the hill. The sat nav chose a different route down and all was good until we came to a barrier across the road, padlocked shut. Another 9 point turn, actually probably more like 15 point and we retraced our steps and went back the way we had originally come. The road was very narrow and potholed but luckily I had Deb in the back to give me advice ;) After a while, another barrier, again padlocked shut. Mum and Deb crossed the road to chat to the fire service guys there but they had no key and told us to speak to the park rangers a little way up the hill. Luckily they were able to open the gate and we shamefacedly drove through. So the lesson is, obey the signs and don't blindly follow sat nav!

Driving up there are no real parking areas, certainly not on the routes we went, so you'd have to park in town. I'd be impressed if a normal person could do the climb and return in 3 hours so do your research before going, find where to park and be aware the trails through the forest aren't marked so you follow the road or...

I recently visited Mirador Abantos in El Escorial, and it was a truly unforgettable experience. The stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the Monastery of El Escorial were absolutely breathtaking. The climb up to the viewpoint was challenging, but well worth it. The natural beauty of the area is simply breathtaking, and it's no wonder that Mount Abantos is a popular destination for hikers and nature enthusiasts.

One of the things I loved most about Mirador Abantos was the sense of peace and tranquility that I felt there. The view was so stunning and the atmosphere was so serene that I felt completely at ease. It was the perfect place to unwind and relax after a long day of exploring the area.

Overall, I would highly recommend a visit to Mirador Abantos to anyone looking to experience the natural beauty of the Madrid region. The views are truly spectacular, and the experience is one that you will...

La calificación tan baja no es por el mirador del Monte Abantos, es por la Administración municipal de San Lorenzo del Escorial. En un espacio público han prohibido el acceso a dicho mirador salvo que seas de servicios o residente, como si dicho espacio público fuese de ellos. En el cartel aparece que es propiedad del municipio de san Lorenzo del Escorial, y no es así, es de gestión de dicho ayuntamiento pero es propiedad de un escurialense como de un zaragozano. Es una carretera PÚBLICA pero la disfrutan quien ellos quiere.

No sirve que prohíban la entrada con la excusa de proteger el entorno, ya que la calle que circunda el monasterio está en un estado lamentable; así que lo que se puede hacer es limitar el acceso de vehículos a los que estrictamente llenen el aparcamiento y poner vigilancia para que no suceda lo que pasó hace años quemando dicho monte. Puedes subir andando y hacer la misma tropelía ecológica.

No podemos ir asumiendo que todo lo que es público nos restrinjan el derecho a visitarlo, ya que desde la barrera hasta arriba hay un kilómetro que para personas ancianas, niñ@s, personas en silla de ruedas o cualquiera que tenga alguna discapacidad se queda sin poder ver...