In reply to Si Withington:
I've not found a way to stop this auto reverting when using a widget when otherwise the watch is inactive, even when the lock screen is activated. I'm not tech savvy so there maybe a way.
However, a work around I discovered is have it on an activity and either set up the data screens to show the info you want to have "permanently" visible, or if your need is for more proactive use of specific widget capabilities (say the ABC widget to monitor direction and attitude etc together) to have it on an activity, leave it recording, revert back to watch, change to the screen you want and it will then hold that screen "indefinitely". You can then lock the screen if you want or change to other "home" screens and it will hold any of them as last viewed.
Of course not going to do the battery life any good, and particularly if it's a widget that you need the gps running to use. Also, you have to remember to stop the activity and discard recording (unless you really want to keep a record!). The number of times I've forgotten to stop it - oops.
Does that make sense and any use to you?
Would have thought it would be simple for Garmin to program in an option in settings to allow holding a widget screen , but I suppose the logic maybe that any serious use of a widget will be when using an activity, otherwise it's casual use so auto revert is reasonable.