Ley lines are straight alignments drawn between various historic structures, prehistoric sites, and prominent landmarks. The idea was developed in early 20th-century Europe, with ley line believers arguing that these alignments were recognized by prehistoric societies and had mystical or spiritual significance. However, archaeologists note that there is no evidence that ley lines were a recognized phenomenon among ancient European societies and that attempts to draw them typically rely on linking together structures that were built in different historical periods. Archaeologists and statisticians have demonstrated that a random distribution of a sufficient number of points on a plane will inevitably create alignments of random points purely by chance.

The concept of ley lines was popularized in the 1920s and 30s by Alfred Watkins, an amateur archaeologist who believed that prehistoric man used the ley lines terminal points as beacons or vantage points that could be used to scope out the land. Watkins called these tracks “leys” or “ley lines” after noticing that the Anglo-Saxon word “ley”, which meant “a clearing in the woods”, was incorporated into many village names around Herefordshire, such as Weobley and Leysters. Watkins theory captured the imagination of a nation and later became the subject of much debate.

Today, there are many theories about ley lines, ranging from Watkins original theory to theories of powerful energy lines and magnetic fields spanning the earth. Some even link UFO sightings and Freemason conspiracies to the lines. Ley lines may provide people with a way to map felt connections to place and, on a deeper level, may speak to the interconnectedness of all life. However, it is important to note that the concept of ley lines is not supported by scientific evidence and is considered by many to be a pseudoscientific or mystical belief.