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Tag: Scotland

Scotland, with its breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural heritage, provides an ideal setting for scattering ashes and holding cremation ceremonies. This beautiful country offers a variety of serene locations to honour your loved ones. From the majestic Highlands and the...

UK funeral industry funeral plan sales direct cremation growth future of funeral directors UK crematoria

How Direct Cremation Funeral Plans Could Reshape the Funeral Industry

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There Is a Storm Coming — Not Tomorrow, But It Is Coming Then I read a very brief snippet in the Funeral Service Journal. The article said that 68,886 funeral plans had been sold in the first quarter of 2026 and that around 70% of those were for direct cremation. I read it once, then […]

Boat for Scattering ashes forth near edinburgh

Firth of Forth, South Queensferry: East Scottish Coast

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Scattering Ashes at Sea Edinburgh The Firth of Forth, with its iconic bridges and stunning coastal scenery, offers a memorable and serene setting for scattering ashes near Edinburgh. This expansive waterway, framed by the historic city and rolling Scottish landscapes, provides a peaceful and reflective environment for a dignified farewell. Its breathtaking views and connection […]

RSPBs policy on scattering ashes at their nature reserves

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RSPB Policy on Scattering Ashes at Nature Reserves If you’re a bird lover (or you’re scattering for someone who was), this is one of the nicer bits of news you’ll read in the world of ashes policies. We asked the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) whether families are allowed to scatter cremation […]

Clyde Estuary and Firth of Clyde: Boat for Scattering Ashes

Scattering Ashes on the River Clyde The Clyde Estuary and Firth of Clyde offer a stunning and peaceful setting for scattering ashes, surrounded by the natural beauty of Scotland’s west coast. With its expansive waters, dramatic landscapes, and views of distant islands, this location provides a serene and reflective environment for a heartfelt farewell. Whether […]

Moray Firth: Inverness

Scattering Ashes at Sea on the Moray Firth Scotland The Moray Firth, located on Scotland’s northeast coast, offers a tranquil and breathtaking setting for scattering ashes. Renowned for its expansive waters, stunning coastal views, and rich marine life, including dolphins, this peaceful location provides a reflective and meaningful environment for a heartfelt farewell. Whether held […]

Policy Position: Historic Environment Scotland

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Scattering Ashes Policy at Historic Scotland (Historic Environment Scotland) Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is responsible for the care and management of more than 300 of Scotland’s most important historic sites, ranging from prehistoric settlements to great royal castles and abbeys. The organisation has confirmed that the scattering of cremated ashes is permitted at many sites […]

Scattering Ashes – National Trust for Scotland

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Scattering Ashes at National Trust for Scotland Properties: What Their Guidance Says The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) cares for a wide and varied portfolio of historic buildings, landscapes and natural environments across Scotland. Because of this diversity, the Trust has confirmed that it does not operate a single, blanket policy covering the scattering of […]

don't use the royal mail for lots of ashes

Losing the Unthinkable: Why You Shouldn’t Post Ashes

A recent story has stuck sad chord with us at Scattering Ashes. A mother sent the ashes of her son in the post and they were lost by the Royal Mail Let’s be honest. This is one of those stories you read with a sinking heart. For those families, it’s not just the loss of […]

Ashes into a Firework Display: UK Wide

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Ashes into Fireworks – A Spectacular Tribute Across the UK Imagine saying goodbye in a way that’s as vibrant and unforgettable as the person you’re remembering. With ashes into fireworks, your loved one’s remains are carefully and safely incorporated into a professional firework display — scattering their ashes among the stars in a blaze of […]

Who gets the ashes: funeral directors caught in the crossfire

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Disputes Over Cremated Remains and the Challenges Facing Funeral Directors The law is not the most dynamic of tools, and legislation around cremation is certainly not at the top of Parliament’s agenda. Crucially, the law is not designed to decide the “right home” for cremated remains. Its primary concern is that ashes are disposed of […]

Ashes Scattering by Drone: UK Wide

Scattering Ashes by Drone: A Modern Tribute to Cherished Memories Saying farewell to a loved one is a deeply personal journey, and the manner in which we choose to honor their memory reflects the uniqueness of their life. Traditional methods of scattering ashes have been meaningful for many; however, with advancements in technology, scattering ashes […]

Loch Lomond: Sterling

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Scattering Ashes over Loch Lomond Scotland Loch Lomond, with its expansive waters and majestic Scottish landscapes, offers a breath-taking setting for scattering ashes. Surrounded by rolling hills and tranquil shores, this iconic loch creates a deeply peaceful and reflective environment. Whether close to the water’s edge or further into the serene expanse, Loch Lomond’s natural […]

Loch Coruisk, Isle of Skye: Scotland

Scattering Ashes at Sea – Isle of Skye Elgol, situated on the dramatic southern coast of the Isle of Skye, offers a breathtaking and tranquil location for scattering ashes. With its stunning views of the Cuillin mountains, rugged cliffs, and pristine waters of Loch Scavaig, Elgol provides a deeply reflective and peaceful setting to honour […]

Why do so many Local Authority Crematoria look so down at heal?

Public Private Partnership in the Funeral world – An Oxymoron? Why do so many crematoria look so down at heal? In many local authorities there has been a complete lack of investment in their crematoria. As a consequence some families are not getting quality or good value funerals plus there is higher air pollution with […]

A Survey of Best Places to Scatter Ashes … really?!

When a ‘Survey’ Isn’t Quite a Survey Always on the lookout for Scattering Ashes stories, I recently stumbled upon a piece of press that caught my eye — a so-called “survey” of the best places to scatter ashes in the UK. To be fair, the original source — SunLife — actually called it an analysis. […]

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Can someone scatter ashes for me? Yes

Can someone scatter ashes for me? A lot of people leave last requests regarding where they want their ashes to be scattered, as family member or friend this may turn out to be quite an onerous task. People’s choice of locations for the final resting place of their ashes can be hugely varied – a […]

Mortonhall Crematorium – Tough Talking their way back into the people’s hearts?

Mortonhall Crematorium Mortonhall crematorium in Edinburgh has had more than its fair share on controversy. In 2013 it was the centre of the baby ashes scandal. They had been disposing of premature baby ashes and telling parents there weren’t any ashes to collect. This caused a huge furore and quite rightly so! (see our previous […]

Dumping of Ashes makes a Scottish beauty spot unsightly

Scatter ashes at beauty spots hits the papers again For ten years I have writing about scattering ashes, where you can and where you can’t, what you should and shouldn’t do. In fact, in one of my early post I had angry walker in the Lake District blaming me [how very dare he!] for the […]

Scattering Location for Hindu and Sikhs on the river clyde

Scattering ashes location for Sikh and Hindus in Glasgow Scotland

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Scattering Ashes on the Clyde: A Welcome Step Forward—and a More Personal Alternative Inverclyde Council, on the banks of Scotland’s River Clyde, has become the first local authority in the country to officially recognise and make provision for Hindu and Sikh communities in the form of a dedicated ashes scattering site. This thoughtful gesture acknowledges […]

The Six Nations Rugby Tournament, Guinness and Scattering Ashes

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The Six Nations 2019. Hold the press, someone has invented some spooky mind ray thing and they are somehow extracting thoughts, I blame the Google Street View van. It must have some clever gizmo on it that is harvesting thought waves. This must be the only plausible explanation, otherwise how else could the advertising agency […]

What does Rod Stewart want to do with his ashes?

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Rod Stewart’s Ashes Veteran rocker Rod Stewart wants his ashes to be scattered at Celtic Park (the home ground of the Celtic Football Club), or failing that Hampden Park (Scotland’s national football stadium) Nothing odd about that, he is a well known football supporter and associated with all things Scottish. It then occurred to me, […]

Can you use a funeral plan to tell your family what to do with your ashes?

About 1.3 million mortality-minded Brits have paid for their funerals ahead of time using some form of pre-paid funeral plan. If you’re planning to join them, you might be wondering whether your plan can be used to sort out what will happen to your ashes at the same time. The (inconvenient) answer is: kind of. […]

Regional variations in our relationship with ashes

Regional Variations in Our Relationship with Ashes Most of us in the UK aren’t wildly different in how we think about cremation and ashes. Age, gender, politics, geography… the big picture is fairly consistent. One clear drift is this: the older we get, the more likely we are to prefer cremation.After that, the differences are […]

Scattering Ashes Service Across the UK

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Scattering Ashes Service UK Ashes Scattering – With Care, Legality, and Dignity When ashes need to be scattered in a particular place — perhaps a favourite beach, a mountain view, or somewhere overseas — we can help. Our Scattering Ashes Service provides a trusted and respectful way to fulfil a loved one’s wishes when family, […]

Free Ashes Guide: What to do with ashes - guide

Free Ashes Guide: What to do with Ashes now – available to people working with bereaved families

Free Ashes Guide. Free Ashes Guide. We have been blogging and writing on the subject of ashes for a several years now, and we have produced a lot of guidance on what people could do with ashes. However, until now we have only had this information available on the website and our guide book*. The […]

Scattering Ashes is the Nation’s Favourite Choice!

Fact: 79% of those wishing to be cremated want their ashes scattered. Which means about 2/3rds of us in total (80% of people are cremated). The result of a recent YouGov survey confirmed what we have believed for years, if you want to be cremated then most of you want your ashes to be scattered. The […]

Ashes into Fireworks: Self-fire or an organised display?

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Ashes into fireworks Are you considering going out with a bang? Putting cremation ashes into fireworks – what are the things you need to think about… There are two main options for you: Having your ashes in a firework display or having the ashes placed in a rocket or a self-firing fireworks box. There are advantages […]

The case of the Cremation without the family knowing

This is the sad case of Mr Fitzpatrick who passed way in August. He had suffered depression for some time and it is believed he committed suicide. At the time he was living on his own, his children had left home and he was estranged from his partner, with whom we was still on good […]

Question: When does a story of a woman’s broken ankle make the nationals?

Answer: when it happened while scattering ashes A family ash-scattering trip, a fall on a Scottish hillside and unexpected headlines Lynda Crowther a resident of Runcorn, Cheshire, was on a family trip to North Ayreshire in Scotland to scatter the ashes her mother. On the walk she broke her ankle in a pothole and due […]

Scatter Tubes Are Not Designed for Water Ceremonies

Scatter Tubes and Water: A Word of Caution Scatter tubes are not designed to be placed in water. They are typically made from thick, dense card and finished with a semi-impervious printed layer. The practical result is that, when placed on water, a scatter tube is likely to float rather than sink — sometimes for […]

Student uses grandfather’s ashes to create a night sky

Final-year photography project incorporating cremated remains into art Death and art seem to have a long relationship from the medieval depiction of what happens to sinners in hell to Damien Hirst’s animals in formaldehyde. There are a few artists that offer for people to have ashes incorporated into art. However here we have a final […]

Digging a road through a scattering site – an infringement of human rights?

When Ashes Are Moved or Removed: Where Do Human Rights Stand? There is a plan to put a road through a section of crematoria land in Perth Scotland and the local residents aren’t happy. Perth council plan to ease congestion in that part of the city involves shaving a strip of land off of the […]

What is the price of ashes?

Understanding the Price of Ashes: Value, Culture and Controversy The Mortonhall scandal in Edinburgh was dreadful, the practice where the crematoria did not return or offer to return stillborn or new-born babies ashes to the parents after cremation, with the reason that there was nothing to return, when in many instances this was untrue and […]

Forestry Commission Scotland policy on scattering ashes

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Good news — for families seeking a dignified scattering location, Scotland’s national forest estate is among the more forward-looking options in the UK. Managed by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), these woods, woodlands and open ground are treated as a national treasure and cared for accordingly. FLS does allow the scattering of cremated remains […]

Money raised for charities from metal reclaimed from a crematoria to top £2m

Now this is good news. The money raised for charities from the recycled metals the arise from cremation is set to reach £2m. When a body is cremated the non-combustible parts are left behind: the bones (the ashes) and any metal which arises. This metal was historically just the ironwork used to make the coffin […]

Scottish Wildlife Trust Policy on Cremated Remains

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Scottish Wildlife Trust Policy on Scattering Ashes The Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) takes a thoughtful and environmentally sensitive approach to the scattering of cremated remains on its nature reserves. While the burial of bodies or ashes is not permitted on any SWT sites, the Trust will consider requests for scattering ashes — provided it is […]

The changing face of municipal memorialsation

The Changing Face of Municipal Memorialisation and Ashes It would seem councils are waking up to the fact that people are general cremated and now that people no longer scatter their loved ones ashes at the crematoria that they may have changing role in relation to public memorialisation. I came across this from Kelso in […]

Facebook to the rescue again!

Man’s appeal after stolen van results in return of his mother’s ashes Two positive stories about Facebook in one week! Fingers crossed I will be on the payroll soon. This is the story of a man who had his mother ashes returned to him after a Facebook appeal. A thief stole his van in […]

How should Cremation Authorities pack and dispatch ashes after cremation

Cremation Authorities: Packing and Dispatching Ashes Safely What should Crematoria do and what should you expect? The following is based on a Best practise briefing produced by the Federation of Burial and Cremation Authorities (UK), I have provided a link at the bottom to the actual guidance. In essence their primary responsibility is to ensure […]

Is there space for Columbariums to be an option for ashes the UK

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How columbarium niches provide a place for cremated remains Is there space for Columbariums to be an option for ashes the UK? I think so, in fact I think they are really overlooked in the UK. My only beef is the ones I see here in the UK and to a certain extent the US are a bit […]

Can you send cremation ashes in the post?

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Royal Mail Policy on Sending Ashes in the Post If you’re planning to send cremation ashes by post within the UK or abroad, it’s essential to understand the Royal Mail and Parcelforce regulations. The rules are quite strict — and for good reason — but there are safe, legal, and reliable ways to transport ashes […]

what happened to ashes of antenatal or neonatal death in Scotland

What happened to the ashes of antenatal or neonatal death in Scotland

Infant cremation ashes: policies, recovery and sensitive options Following the Mortonhall baby scandal, The Herald Scotland looked into the practice of authorities, the results have been set out below, along with a link to the original article. Accurate at the time of publishing (Mar 2013) Authority / Crematoria Comment and or policy Glasgow City Council […]

Edinburgh crematorium’s policy on infant ashes sparks outrage

Mortonhall Ashes Scandal

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Edinburgh crematorium’s policy on infant ashes sparks outrage The Edinburgh crematoria at Mortonhall is at the centre of a scandal. Prior to 2007 it was their policy not to return the ashes of stillborn children and very small infants (antenatal or neonatal babies). The basis for this, it would appear, was a blanket policy to […]

Ex Nazi to have his ashes scattered where he was a PoW

Ex-Nazi POW’s Ashes to Be Scattered in Scotland A German soldier left his estate to a Scottish the village of Comrie, Perthshire and is to have his cremation ashes scattered there where he was a prisoner of war camp during WWII. Heinrich Steinmeyer was a soldier in the Wafhen SS and was captured fighting to […]

Crematorium worker under investigation over theft of gold from human ashes

Police investigate alleged misuse of recovered metals after cremation An employee at the Moray crematorium, in the Grampian region of Scotland has been suspended while the police investigate the alleged theft of precious metals. Non ferrous metals (gold and silver etc) which are derived from dental work and jewellery are extracted by a machine after […]

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