Highland Council manages 247 burial grounds across the largest local authority area in the UK by land mass, stretching from Inverness to Cape Wrath and the Ardnamurchan peninsula. The council carries out over 1,700 burials a year. Fees are the same for everyone – Highland is one of the few UK councils that doesn’t charge non-residents more, and burying someone under 18 is always free of charge.
Lair purchase
| Lair type | Fee |
|---|---|
| One adult | £678 |
| Two adults | £963 |
| Three adults | £1,252 |
| Up to four ash containers | £518 |
Burial and interment fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Weekday interment | £1,041 |
| Saturday interment | £1,301 |
| Sunday or public holiday interment | £1,562 |
| Cremated remains (weekday) | £243 |
| Cremated remains (Saturday) | £304 |
| Cremated remains (Sunday or public holiday) | £365 |
| Children under 18 | Free |
Additional fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Administrative cost | £83 |
| Lair certificate copy or transfer | £83 |
| Search fee (per hour or part hour) | £80.40 |
| Headstone digging | £108 |
| Headstone digging and base | £159 |
Fees verified 2026-08-07, source page last modified 3 June 2026. Source: Highland Council – burial fees.
About Highland Council burial grounds
The Highland Council maintains 247 burial grounds across Inverness, Fort William, Wick, Thurso, Dingwall, and dozens of smaller communities across a vast rural area, and operates Inverness Crematorium. Burials involving someone under 18 are free of charge. To buy a lair or ask about a specific burial ground, contact your local area office – Highland Council runs bereavement services through local teams rather than a single central office.