SL01 Las dehesas de El Boalo

This simple circular walk around El Boalo shows the typical and peaceful landscape where ash and holm oak forests prevail alongside pastures and fields enclosed by the traditional stone walls of the area.

This route goes along the regional drovers' road network. While taking this route one can enjoy the views of the Peña del Mediodía and of La Pedriza massif.

The ash forests you’ll come across are one of the most typical ecosystems of the so-called mountainside “piedemonte” (the lower part of the mountain). They are extremely valuable ecosystems where a great biological diversity coexists with the sustainable use of natural resources (mainly food for livestock, firewood, and hunting). Dispersed specimens of ash (Fraxinus andgustifolia) can be found, as well as big areas of free land to be used for grazing. They are usually located in flat, low, and humid areas. The holm oaks (Quercus ilex) substitute the ash trees in the mountain’s skirt and in the areas far from the streams since they require drier land.

The pastures and fields are also home to vast diversity and offer an outstanding view, especially in springtime when the herbaceous plants bloom and fill the countryside with an array of bright and vibrant colours. The stone walls that surround these fields are normally accompanied by wild blackberries and rose bushes, as well as other types of bushes, such as hawthorns and blackthorns. They play an important role as shelter and food sources to small wild animals like insects, reptiles, and birds.

After leaving the forest and crossing the road, the route continues along the Samburiel River and the Herrero Stream through a very fresh area where the riverbank vegetation can be seen.

Towards the end of this route there is an optional detour to visit the remains of a necropolis where some old anthropomorphic tombs dug into stones can be spotted.