The phrase "circuitous route" means taking a longer and indirect path to reach a destination or complete a task instead of taking the most direct or straight path. Full definition
With Happy End, Michael Haneke takes circuitous routes to arrive at rather simplistic observations — namely, that modern technology is a plague and that the rich are soul - sick and insulated from real - world troubles. (slantmagazine.com)
It has been a long circuitous route of getting here, but I feel I am getting a bit closer. (redeeminggod.com)
What distinguishes them is that they did so via more circuitous routes. (blog.politics.ox.ac.uk)