Scattering of Ashes

If you are considering scattering the ashes of a loved one on water, the River Dee offers a beautiful backdrop to say farewell. We can provide boats for up to 80 passengers on a private hire basis to carry out your scattering of ashes.

Where will we scatter the ashes?

We sail from The Groves near Chester city centre. From our moorings, we will set off to a quieter spot away from other river users. This will usually take around 10-15 minutes, but the exact location will depend on weather, river conditions, and other river users.

From the area that we sail, the River Dee flows over Chester weir, down to the estuary between the Wirral and Flintshire coast, and out into Liverpool Bay and the Irish Sea.

How should we scatter the ashes?

You don’t need to get anyone’s permission to scatter ashes in the River Dee, but it’s important to do so in a way that causes no harm to the river or other river users.

Please don’t place anything into the water until advised the crew that this is ok – we need to make sure we are in a suitable place away from other river users. Please do not place anything non-biodegradable into the water. If releasing flowers, all packaging and plastics must be removed first.

It is best to scatter ashes as close to the surface of the water as possible to avoid the wind scattering them before reach the water. The best way to do this is with a water soluble urn. This gives weight to carry the ashes to the surface of the water, then dissolves in the water so they can be released to the flow of the river.

How long should we sail for?

If you would like to time to carry out the scattering of ashes and say a few words, a 30-60 minute cruise should be long enough. You may want to hire for a longer period (eg. 2 to 3 hours) to spend some time taking in the scenery of the River Dee, perhaps with music, food, and drinks.

Make an Enquiry

Please complete an enquiry form below if you would like availability for hiring a boat for your ashes scattering. Prices for private boat hire do vary by date, so feel free to enter more than one date if you would like to see multiple options. Private hire is subject to availability and busier times such as weekends do often fill up well in advance.