Today I let my son walk home from school with a classmate, and they took an unforeseen shortcut.

[QuintessentialShadow]

I did not tell them wich way to take, as it was sort of obvious. I thought they would walk the way we normally walk.

The boys were supposed to start walking at 3
2pm, and go to the other boys house for an hour of play. At 13 past 2 I hear the voice of the other boy, and I see them from my study window (at the back of our house)

They have taken a short cut through the woods, between the river and a neighbours house. Our house is at the end of the road. I wouldnt say it is dangerous, not that anybody would hide in there, and the river is more like a little stream, so they wouldnt drown. There is no path.

Do I ask him about it? Should I scold him?

no i wouldn't though how old is he? sounds like he had fun

He will be 7 in April, but we live in the sticks so not unusual for kids to walk home from that age.

I wouldn't scold him but would point out to him that you would prefer if he could go the way you would normally.

If there was 3 of them I suppose it was qite safe (safety in numbers if somebody is lurking in the shadow and safety if one has a bad fall the others can call for help). I think you should just ask him to show you exacly what the shortcut was like and then let him know wether you agree for him to take this route again or not. I do not thing he needs scolding though but I have not seen the possible dangers the shortcut involves.

There were two of them. And I dont think this was particularly dangerous. But, it is his first time given the responsibility of walking home without a parent. BUT, where will he stray next time? Further into the woods for a bit of a play?

IF you didn;t tell him to come home the normal way, scolding seems a bit harsh. However IF you did... Maybe tomorrow agree which way they will walk with out you before it happens.

I bet they were having an "adventure". Ds is just 7 and has started having little walks on his own (we are in the sticks too), then telling me about the things he gets up to (I didn't actually believe the one about the giant talking penguin). i am trying to make him tell me where he's going on the adventures, but with limited success.

If you didn't tell him which way to come, unreasonable to scold him IMO. Make sure that next time you make your expectations explicit (whether that be coming back the way you come with him, or being able to follow today's shortcut but not straying any further, or whatever).

I asked him what way he took, and said he could tell me as I would not be angry. I could see he was uncertain as to whether he should tell me or not, so I made it easy for him, told him I had heard them talk, and seen them from the window. I told him it was ok, he could use that shortcut, but just be mindfull of the stream and to not try and cross it to play in the woods on the other side.