DevelopMEN

Men's Social Hike | El Escorial - Senda Los Tesoros de Abantos

Fancy getting outside, exploring somewhere new and meeting some other guys along the way?
Join us for a relaxed Sunday outing to El Escorial, where we'll enjoy a walk through the local park before heading up to the beautiful Senda Los Tesoros de Abantos hiking route.
The idea isn't to race to the top or turn this into a fitness challenge. It's an opportunity to get some fresh air, enjoy the scenery, have a few conversations and spend some time with some like-minded guys!

I'm also exploring this route for the first time, so it'll be a new experience for me too! Thankfully, this was recommended by a fellow DevelopMEN member, who's going to join us. It'll be great to discover it together 🤝

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The plan 🥾
10:45 – Meet at El Escorial train station
We'll meet outside the station and get everyone together before setting off. I'll write in the comments what I'm wearing so you can spot me!
11:00 – Walk towards the trail
We'll make our way towards San Lorenzo de El Escorial, passing through a lovely park along the way. This should take around 45–60 minutes at a relaxed pace.
12:00 – Start the hike
We'll take on the Senda Los Tesoros de Abantos, a circular route of approximately 5 km through the beautiful surroundings of Monte Abantos.
Allow around 2–2.5 hours for the hike, including breaks to enjoy the views, take photos and have a chat.
14:30 onwards – Food or drinks
Once we've finished, we'll head into town for some food or a drink together. This part is completely optional, so feel free to join us if you fancy staying a little longer.

A Few things to know 📝

• Date: Sunday 22 November
• Meeting time: 10:45
• Meeting point: El Escorial train station
• Language: English
• Distance: Approximately 5 km for the hiking route, plus a 45–60-minute walk from the station to the trailhead
• Difficulty: Moderate. There are some uphill sections, so a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
• What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water, a snack and warm layers. The weather can be cooler up in the mountains.

Who is this for?
This event is part of DevelopMEN Social, bringing men together in Madrid to meet new people, expand their social circles and build genuine friendships.
Whether you've recently moved to Madrid, want to meet people outside your existing social circle, or simply fancy spending a Sunday outdoors with some good company, you're welcome.
You don't need to know anyone beforehand, and you're more than welcome to come on your own.
All DevelopMEN events are conducted in English, so you'll need to be comfortable communicating in English to take part.
No pressure, no expectations. Just get outside, meet some guys and enjoy the day.

Hope to see you there! 🤝

Beyond Small Talk | Practice the Art of Conversation
Ever find yourself wondering how to start a conversation with someone new? Or struggle to keep a conversation going beyond the usual questions?
Perhaps you sometimes find it difficult to share things about yourself, or you simply want to feel more comfortable and confident when meeting new people.

Then come and join us for Beyond Small Talk, an interactive session where we'll explore what makes conversations enjoyable, practise our listening skills and discover how to share a little more of ourselves.

What we'll explore:
We'll experiment with different ways of approaching everyday conversations, including:

• Moving beyond cliché questions: How can we turn predictable questions into more interesting conversations?
• Listening and responding: Are we really listening to what someone says, or are we just thinking about what we're going to say next?
• Sharing more of ourselves: How can we introduce ourselves in a way that gives people a genuine insight into who we are?

We'll also have a few interactive games and exercises along the way.
By the end, you'll have had the opportunity to experiment with different approaches to conversation and put together a 20–30 second introduction you can use when meeting someone new, whether that's at a social event, in everyday life or on a date.

What this isn't:
This isn't a public-speaking course, a lecture or a lesson in becoming the most charismatic person in the room.
There's no cookie-cutter script to learn, no pressure to impress anyone and no expectation that you have to be an extrovert.
It's about getting to know yourself a little better, recognising that your own experiences are worth sharing, and becoming more comfortable expressing who you are.
And, of course, having a laugh along the way!

Who is this for?
This event is part of DevelopMEN, an English-speaking men's community in Madrid. Whether you're new to Madrid, looking to expand your social circle, naturally more introverted, or simply interested in having more meaningful conversations, you're welcome.

You don't need to have attended one of our previous events, and you certainly don't need to be particularly confident at starting conversations.
Just come as you are, be open to experimenting, and take your time.

Donations:
DevelopMEN events are donation-based. There's no fixed ticket price, and contributions are entirely voluntary.
If you'd like to support what we're building and help us keep creating opportunities for men to connect, you're welcome to make a donation. Please only contribute what you're comfortable with.
Everyone is welcome regardless of whether they donate.

Language:
All DevelopMEN events are conducted in English. You'll need to be comfortable communicating in English to take part.
We look forward to meeting you! 🤝