ACCESS FROM GORLIZ TO THE LIGHTHOUSE IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED .
Visit the Gorliz Lighthouse: directions, hiking time, family-friendly routes and breathtaking views of the Basque coast cliffs. It rises at the top of Cape Billano where you can see the cliffs and the vastness of the sea. Despite being a quiet new structure, built in 1990, it is now placed as one of the first icons of Gorliz, almost comparable to the Marine Sanatorium. Its light has helped many boats not to run aground during the night or with difficult weather conditions.
How to get there?
You can reach the Gorliz Lighthouse either by car or on foot. There is a small parking area nearby for cars, but the most popular way is the hiking route starting from Gorliz beach, which takes around 30–40 minutes on foot.
How long does it take?
The walk from the beach up to the lighthouse takes about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on your pace. It is an easy route, although there are some uphill sections.
With children?
The route is suitable for families with children, as it is well signposted and not very difficult. Comfortable footwear and water are recommended.
What to see nearby?
In addition to the lighthouse, visitors can explore the bunkers built after the Spanish Civil War, climb Mount Ermua and enjoy breathtaking views of the cliffs.
👉 Very close by, you will find the Gorliz bunkers
Architecture
The lighthouse of Gorliz has a rather singular architecture if we compare it with the rest of the lighthouses of the Cantabrian cornice. For starters, it is the lighthouse that reaches the highest point of the entire ledge and, of course, of the coast of Biscay. The body is composed of two concrete elements of about 21 meters high that are attached and whitewashed. The whitewashed is reminiscent of the traditional buildings of the Basque coastal villages, since in the towns of the north generally predominate dark buildings in grey and land tones. The tower is crowned by a glass lantern decorated with metal rods that ends up giving it a vanguard look.
Why is this lighthouse called Gorliz Lighthouse?
Usually the lighthouses are named after the cape where they are located. In this specific case, as there already was another cape Villano in Galicia whose lighthouse is named after it, it was chosen to name the one in Gorliz after the village where it is located.
This has favoured Gorliz as it has made it clearer on the lighthouses map.
Special features
Gorliz can boast of having its own stamp, because in 2007 the Post service got a special stamp where Gorliz Lighthouse appears.
Video guide
Do you want to see its spectacular location?
Transcription of video and audio
The Gorliz lighthouse is located at the highest point of Cape Billao, in the middle of nature. Approximately at 165m above sea level.
It was built in 1990 and can not be considered a conventional lighthouse.
The body consists of two white towers of 21 meters that are attached. Together with their lantern the structure has an avant-garde style and an unconventional aesthetic, very different from the typical lighthouse (next to the lighthouse the following in front of the island of Billao, the highest lighthouse on the Cantabrian coast).
In general, lighthouses are named after the cape where they are located. But as there is another lighthouse in Galicia of previous construction named Villano this lighthouse is named after the municipality of Gorliz.
Routes to the Gorliz lighthouse
ROUTE TO THE LIGHTHOUSE INLAND
Distance: 6.1 km, Time: 1:40 hrs, Climb: 287 m., Category: Demanding
This interesting and easy route explores the different areas between Astondo and Cape Billano. On this route you will discover Gorliz Lighthouse, located 165 metres above sea level. You can observe the beautiful Billao Island from the observatory at the base of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was inaugurated in 1990 and, therefore, it is one of the most modern lighthouses in the Iberian Peninsula. It is 21 metres high and the system is completely automatic. Its beam travels 29 miles into the Bay of Biscay.
Climbing Ermua via the “Castillito” (fort), going down to Armintza and returning along the GR 280 Trail
This is a more demanding route than the previous two. That is because you will climb two small peaks before reaching the lighthouse and then climb up Ermua, which means a greater cumulative elevation gain, and also because you will extend the route by descending to Armintza and returning to Gorliz along a section of the GR 280 Trail, which means walking a much greater distance. Nevertheless, it is not too much for hikers who are relatively used to mountain walks, bearing in mind that the return to Gorliz from Armintza is very quiet with no demanding climbs.
Duration: 3 hours 10 min.
Cumulative elevation gain: 537 m
Distance: 15.5 km
Difficulty: Moderate in terms of distance and cumulative elevation gain.
Circular route from Gorliz through Astondo via the lighthouse, Ermua Mendi, Armintza, Urizarmendi, Andraka, the Plentzia estuary, the Gandia neighbourhood and back to Gorliz
I must warn you that this is one of the longest routes in the guidebook and the one with the second highest cumulative elevation gain. It will take about four and a half hours without stops for relatively well-trained hikers. If you take it a little slower – and on such a long route it is necessary to stop for a drink and something to eat, admire the scenery, etc. – you can do it in five and a half hours.
Duration: 4 hours 15 minutes
Distance: 21.6 km
Difficulty: Moderate–High (due to its length abd the two ascents up Ermua and Urizarmendi)
Cumulative elevation gain: 786 m
Route round the outskirts of Gorliz
Before starting this route, we should point out that, strictly speaking, it is impossible to go all the way round Gorliz due to the non-existence of paths or tracks that run as close as possible to the boundaries of the town. However, we have tried to get as close as possible, although passing through parts of neighbouring municipalities or straying relatively far away from the geographical boundaries of the town is unavoidable for the sake of the efficiency of the route.
Total time: 3 hours 45 min.
Distance: 18.35 km
Cumulative elevation gain: 543 m
Difficulty: Medium, due to the distance
LONG CIRCULAR ROUTE
Long circular route from Gorliz, going up Ermua and Urizarmendi, Andraka, Butron Castle, Urduliz, Barrika cliffs, San Telmo, Plentzia and back to Gorliz
This is without doubt the longest circular route in this guide. It is well over 30 km and takes just over 7 hours to complete, with a cumulative elevation gain of almost 900 m, which, bearing in mind that it runs through this area of Uribe Kosta where there are hardly any large mountains, is a big deal. It is a typical “leg breaker”, recommended only for experienced people who are used to several hours of walking. Of course, another option is to do the route in two days, dividing it into two stages. Doing that makes the challenge a little more manageable.
Total time: 7 hours 30 min.
Distance: 34 km
Cumulative elevation gain: 900 m
Difficulty: High
The seven small peaks from Astondo to Armintza
This is a route for the brave, for experienced mountain people who don’t mind suffering for a while crossing relatively difficult stretches at the expense of having at almost all times spectacular views in areas very little frequented. We will always go close to the abysses that mark the cliffs and that fall with maximum verticality to the resounding sea that can be seen below.
Total time: 5 hours
Distance: 15,7km
Cumulative elevation gain: 675 m
Difficulty: Moderate
