Detail

RE-CERTIFIED - 12.8 km

The route climbs from the banks of the Karrantza River along rural roads and quiet trails.

The landscape opens up to the imposing walls of the Hornijo massif, while oak and beech trees provide the route with shade and tranquility.

Along the way, remains of old furnaces and abandoned mines appear, evidence of the valley’s industrial past.

The karst terrain and the humidity of the surroundings bring freshness and character to the landscape.

The stage ends in Lanestosa, a charming village in the interior of Bizkaia where nature, history and silence intertwine in harmony.

ROUTE

Stage 18 of the GR 123, between the Balneario El Molinar and Lanestosa, offers one of the most beautiful and authentic sections of the route through Bizkaia. With a length of 12.8 kilometres, it crosses a wide, green area located at the western end of the historic territory.

The path begins next to the Karrantza River, ascending through meadows, farmhouses and Atlantic forests dominated by beech and holm oak trees, bearing witness to the balance between nature and rural life. As it gains height, the landscape opens up towards the limestone ranges of Hornijo, whose ridges mark the boundary with Cantabria.

After reaching the highest point of the route, the trail begins a long descent along cobbled paths that lead to the valley of Lanestosa, the smallest town in Bizkaia. Founded in 1287 by Lope Díaz III de Haro, Lanestosa preserves a medieval historic centre declared a monumental complex, with cobbled streets, wooden balconies and stone buildings that tell a tale of its past as a strategic gateway between Castile and the Cantabrian Sea.

This stage seamlessly weaves together history, nature and rural heritage, connecting the ancient paths of Bizkaia with its living legacy. Walking from Balneario El Molinar to Lanestosa is to experience the true character of the Basque Country. Every bend in the path reveals the traces of those who lived and worked these lands, leading to a serene landscape that still radiates authenticity.

MUNICIPALITIES

• KARRANTZA HARANA
• LANESTOSA

PLACES OF INTEREST

• EL MOLINAR BAINUETXEA
• MATIENZO AUZOA
• MONTE MATIENZOKO OLA
• EL MAZO MENDIA
• RELUX LEIHOA
• LA CALERA TRIKUHARRIA
• PEÑA DEL MORO MENDIA
• EL FUERTE TRIKUHARRIA
• URAREN KOBA
• KOBENKOBAKO BEHATOKIA
• LANESTOSA

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