Hardwood vs. Stovewood: Which is Best for Log Burners in Angus & Dundee?
TLDR: Hardwood is the King, but Larch is the Prince.
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Hardwood: Best for maximum heat and the longest burn time. Fewer reloads, less ash, and the ultimate premium fuel for heating your home.
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Larch (Stovewood): The "heavyweight" of softwoods. It burns hotter and longer than pine or spruce and is significantly cheaper than hardwood.
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The Pro Tip: Use Larch or Heat-Logs to get your stove roaring quickly, then switch to Hardwood for a long, slow evening burn. All of our firewood is Kiln-Dried and Ready to Burn for local delivery across Angus, Dundee, and Fife.
What Exactly is "Stovewood"? (The Honest Truth)
If you’ve searched for firewood in Dundee, Arbroath, Forfar, or Carnoustie, you’ve likely seen the term “Stovewood” (or "Stove Wood") used by various suppliers. It sounds premium, almost like it was salvaged from a Viking longhouse, but let’s be honest about things here, Stovewood is simply softwood with a fancy name.
NOTE - Stovewood / Larch - SHOULD ONLY BE BURNED IN ENCLOSED LOG BURNERS, it is not suitable for open fires due to it's tendency to spit.
At Ravensby Firewood, we don’t believe in "marketing fluff." We want you to know exactly what you’re putting in your burner, whether you're heating a family home in Broughty Ferry or keeping a rural Airbnb warm in Arbirlot. That is why we only exclusively sell LARCH as our "Stovewood" - more details about why we use Larch are below!
Why Not All Softwood is Created Equal
Softwood gets its name because it’s best used in enclosed wood-burning stoves only (it can spark in open fires). It is the most common wood grown in Scotland, making it a sustainable, local choice.
However, softwood comes in many different formats, and not all give out the same heat. We don't supply "generic" softwood like spruce or pine that disappears in ten minutes. Our Stovewood is Larch, the densest, hottest-burning softwood on the planet. Sourced from forests right here in Angus and Fife, it offers a massive heat boost without the premium hardwood price tag.
How Does Larch Stovewood Perform vs. Hardwood?
When choosing the best logs for your burner, you need to look at two things: BTUs (Heat) and Density (Burn Time).
🔥 Heat Output (BTU) Comparison
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Hardwood (Ash / Beech / Birch): ~24–27 Million BTU per cord. The highest energy density available.
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Larch Stovewood: ~21–22 Million BTU per cord. Punches far above its weight, nearly as hot as some hardwoods.
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Mixed Softwood (Pine/Spruce): ~15–17 Million BTU per cord. Science tells us this burns faster & gives less heat than Larch.
⏳ Burn Time Comparison
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Larch Stovewood burns 25% longer than generic mixed softwoods.
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Hardwood burns roughly 20% longer than Larch.
While Hardwood sits on the "log throne" for longevity, Larch acts like a hybrid. It’s categorized as a softwood, but it performs with the grit of some hardwood's.
So, Which Should You Buy?
Based on 2026 heating costs and local feedback from our customers across Angus, Fife and Perthshire, here is our honest advice:
✅ Choose Hardwood if:
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You want the absolute maximum heat and longest burn times and your budget allows.
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You want to reload the stove less often.
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You are heating a large or poorly insulated home in rural Angus, Dundee or Fife.
✅ Choose Larch Stovewood if:
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You want great heat at a lower price (Larch is typically much cheaper).
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You run your stove all day and want to manage your fuel costs.
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You want a wood that ignites quickly to get the house warm fast.
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Best for: Daily "everyday" burning and budget-conscious households.
Heating Tayside & Fife: Real-World Delivery
We don’t just sell logs, we deliver them with our local drivers to every corner of the region. From navigating the steep drives on Dundee’s Law Hill to dropping XL Bulk-Bags in St Andrews or tipping loose loads at farms outside Forfar, we know the local landscape inside out.
As the only supplier in the area currently carrying the Angus Trusted Trader seal, you can order safe in the knowledge that every log we deliver is Kiln-Dried to under 20% moisture.
Try Before You Commit
Not sure which is right for your stove? Don't guess!
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Grab a Larch Net: Perfect for a weekend trial. Why not pop down to our self-serve collection area in Carnoustie and pick up a Larch net or three to see if it works for you before committing to a larger load?
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Order an XL Bulk-Bag: Whether you are in Angus & Dundee of Fife our firewood bags are the largest in the region, giving you more "heat per £ound."
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Mix Your Order: Many of our Broughty Ferry and Monifieth customers buy both, using Larch for the "start" and Hardwood for the "slumber."
Ready for a delivery? We deliver hardwood and larch stovewood in our XL bulk-bags or loose tipped trailer loads across Dundee, Angus, Fife, and Perthshire, including the hard-to-reach farms in the area!
