Have heard a number of tales of people getting it wrong and ending up with the recently departed traveling with them longer than was intended.
As far as I know there's no problem with scattering ashes as long as you have permission from the Land owner. My Fathers ashes were scattered on his favourite fishing spot.
Also burials can be done almost any where on private land with certain restrictions regarding to public health and water courses. A farmer not far from where I grew up was buried in one of his fields. He wanted to be buried wrapped up in fertilizer sacks with no ceremony in an upright position overlooking his farm. Apart from the fertilizer bags, they had to use a cardboard coffin, they dug the hole with a Hymac dropped him in and went off to the pub. His sons who were never very fond of him took great pleasure in holding a motorcycle grass track meeting over his head the following year. He hated motor bikes, said they were a waste of money!