In reply to AndrewB47:
Your right, coke will give out but its the through air that will let it down. it brill if you have time to get the flue hot and have a stove, not so good in a open grate [ some Baix have open grates draw from under the floor you wont see one in a bothie] and is also good for slow burning any one who has stopped at the Carlie hut in Newlanas and its pot belly will know.
It can be difficult to know what to do, and a cold flue on a cold night can be slow to slow to draw
if you know the fire and flue, you can match fuel to it. you spoke of house coal and this is a variable but good coal is easy to light and manage.
Anthracites have bean mentioned , this can be tricky get going but is ubiquitous if its not possible to mix with a soft coal.
Regarding supply, the only comment I can make is do not buy from Pearson Fuels Maple/ Hyde, I had short weight from them, and having seen them successfully prosecuted in Oldham Magistrates court, I now go elsewhere, Steve Eaton in Mossly/ Grenfield of Eaton fuels... however helpful as Steve is i think he will draw the line at delivering to bothies.
Tricks for lighting X3 news paper, 1x read it 2x screw up to put in boots [ do this over night but remove every so often and dry the paper, 3x light fire
Dry wood bake it at home in a low oven to dry don't over cook, seal into a air tight bag/ condom ...........and--------- do this every time you light your bothy fire and seal it for next time, you will carry dry [light] wood, ready to light.
Like coal woods have different properties when burnt, so pick your wood. Not to dense for lighting
MBNA stoves. I was on a work party some time ago and the stoves the MBNA were fitting in the borders was a Dowling and I don't think suitable for coal. a wood burner, but this was kielder. so yes MO will not be happy that having said the boiler house at Chorley Nick HMP had a moving chain grate with the upward airflow the under side was cool enough to touch.