Advice on Ashes

Many people during their lifetime request that following cremation their ashes be scattered at a specific location. In other cases it is the relatives of the deceased that make this decision. Being the highest mountain in the country, Ben Nevis is a fairly popular venue for such ceremonies.

It might be assumed that the practice of scattering ashes will have no lasting effect on the immediate environment. However if ashes are repeatedly scattered over a limited area this can bring about changes to plant life. Many plants can tolerate only a narrow range of soil acidity or alkalinity, and many are sensitive to the concentration of certain mineral elements. The ashes of human remains are rich in both calcium and phosphorus and elevated concentrations of these elements can stimulate the growth of some plant species, but adversely affect others.

On softer ground the burial of ashes confines their effect to a small area and is a preferable alternative to above ground scattering, but this is not practicable on the summit plateau. While no attempt will be made to dissuade anyone from scattering human ashes on Ben Nevis, you should try to choose an area away from the summit cairn, and also away from the north face on which a number of alpine plants struggle to survive. The more widespread the dispersal the less likelihood of an impact on vulnerable plant species. Throwing ashes into the air on a windy day is an effective way of ensuring that they are distributed over a sufficiently wide area.