It is a common trick to avoid getting lost while enjoying a lovely long walk in the country.
Half of hikes recorded by ramblers involved them turning around halfway to retrace their route along exactly the same path, according to Ordnance Survey (OS). These are known as linear or “there and back” routes.
The nation’s official map-makers have calculated that walkers have trudged 146,000 miles, or six times round the equator, moving through the same scenery as on their outward route. The research is based on data collected on the OS’s mobile phone app up to May 2018.
Tim Newman, the organisation’s digital products manager, said 46% of walks recorded on the OS Maps app over the course of three years were linear. In Scotland…