The Gorliz Lighthouse is one of the most distinctive landmarks on the coast of Bizkaia, located on the Cape Billano, about two kilometres from the town of Gorliz. Built in 1990, it is the newest lighthouse on the Basque coast and, at 165 metres above sea level, also the highest in the Cantabrian Sea. Its sleek white cylindrical tower, standing 21 metres tall, contrasts with the rugged cliffs and green landscapes that surround it, offering one of the most striking panoramic views of the Basque coastline.
The route to the lighthouse begins at Gorliz Beach, just in front of the entrance to the Hospital de Gorliz, where a paved service road ascends gently towards the cape. The road is restricted to authorised vehicles only, making it ideal for walking or cycling in a quiet, natural setting.
This path passes through the Granja Foral de Gorliz, a public agricultural and environmental institution dedicated to the recovery and improvement of native Basque breeds, such as the Pottoka horse and the Terreña cow. The animals can easily be seen along the route.
Near the lighthouse stand the old bunkers, remnants of a military installation built during the Francoist period. These concrete structures were part of a coastal defence system designed in the mid-20th century, though they were never used for combat. Today, the bunkers remain as historical vestiges that evoke a different chapter of the region’s past. Visitors can explore the exterior and interior of the bunkers, admire the only remaining cannon, and observe how nature has gradually reclaimed the area, integrating the ruins into the surrounding cliffs and vegetation.
Trekking information
The route takes us to the Gorliz Lighthouse, starting at Gorliz Beach and following a paved road out and back along the same path. Near the lighthouse you can easily explore the abandoned military bunkers.
- Route: Gorliz Beach – Lighthouse – Bunkers – Gorliz Beach
- Starting point: Gorliz Beach
- Ending point: Gorliz Beach
- Distance: 4,2 km
- Time: 1 hour 30 min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Wikiloc: Faro de Gorliz por el camino a Cabo Billano
Posted on November 1, 2025
