A detour or roundabout way — going a longer route than necessary; can also mean a roundabout or indirect manner (figurative).
工事のため駅まで遠回りしなければならなかった。
Because of construction, I had to take a detour to the station.
近道を使えば遠回りしなくて済むよ。
If you take the shortcut, you won't have to detour.
彼の説明は遠回りで、要点が伝わらなかった。
His explanation was roundabout and the main point didn't come across.