How to calculate how far you can walk under Spain's new lockdown measures

After 48 days of strict confinement, Spaniards are now being allowed to leave their homes to go for a walk with one other a person who lives at the same address as them.

The timeframe for these walks is from 6am to 10am and 8pm to 11pm, with the other allotted slots for the elderly and dependants being from 10am to 12pm and 7pm to 8pm; and for walks with children from 12pm to 7pm. 

For all these groups, the maximum distance anyone can go from their homes is a one-kilometre radius - as the crow flies - something which isn’t necessarily easy to calculate (for jogging and other outdoor exercise which can be practised individually there is no distance limit as long as it's in the same municipality).

Fortunately, there are several digital tools that can be used to calculate that distance and avoid getting into trouble if stopped by police and you’ve strayed too far.

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People exercising in Barcelona for the first time in 48 days. Photo: AFP

Google Maps

The world’s most used web mapping service is an obvious first choice but the option to pinpoint the distance between two places is slightly hidden and only available on desktop.

First, type in your home address. Next right-click on the red pin that’s dropped onto the map and choose “Measure distance” (Medir distancia in Spanish).

Now you can click on another point on the map to find out how far it is. Unfortunately, Google Maps doesn’t give you the option to see the circular one-kilometre radius from your home address.

CalcMaps website

This site does allow you to calculate a one-kilometre circular radius from a set point to get a full picture of how far you can go on your walks.

For the best results, first change the viewing to the 'map' mode in the upper right corner in order to be able to read the names of the streets. 

Then search for your address in the top left (it won't pinpoint it exactly but you will be able to zoom in, in case you're having trouble locating it).

Next click on 'Draw circle', and from your selected point hold and drag out until the measurement of the radius reaches 1,000 metres.

Android app with GPS warning

The “Wake me there” app for Android is a free app that tells you if you've surpassed the one-kilometre distance by sending you an audio or vibration warning before you reach the perimeter.

It can be downloaded from the PlayStore app on Android mobiles and tablets. You'll have to accept location permissions and choose the GPS alarm, input your address and set a one-kilometre perimeter.

iOS Reminders app

Iphones (iOS 7 and above) come with the Reminders app preinstalled, which allows users to set location-based alerts in a similar way to the app mentioned above.

You’ll have to set a location-based reminder. To do this, open Reminders and create a new item, click on the information ‘I’ button to the right of the item when in the alert and use the 'Remind me at a location' function.

Switch the 'Remind me at a location' toggle on, you will be asked to choose a location or enter an address; choose ‘When I Arrive’ and set the size of the area used to define the alarm.