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aroundtheworldin18years · 6 years ago

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Living on the island of Ireland we are very fortunate to live in a rural area with zero light pollution. On a clear night the stars shine brightly and many of our galaxy constellations can be seen. How on earth can we top that? Well, maybe if we had a snowmobile, a sleigh and a reindeer hide for warmth we’d be close! That’s exactly what we had when we visited Finnish Lapland and took a Starlit Sleigh Ride with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse in Ruka. Having already done Ice Fishing in Ruka with the same company, we knew our evening would be enjoyable. And who knows, maybe we’d get to see the spectacular Northern Lights!

A spectacular display from the Northern Lights in Finland

STARLIT SLEIGH RIDE IN RUKA

On a cold clear night we were greeted in the Rukapalvelu Safarihouse reception area by Antti, who’d be our guide for the Starlit Sleigh Ride. As with our Ice Fishing excursion, we were lead to the back of the shop to clobber up. A thick snowsuit was provided to wear over our own clothes for additional warmth. As well as the warm snowsuit, over-sized boots and merino wool socks that Granny used to wear; plus a helmet for safety. Outside temperature was -28°C and, even with light pollution from Ruka Village; twinkling stars were plentiful. Our mode of transport for the Starlit Sleigh Ride was a snowmobile which was towing the sleigh we’d be seated in.

READ ALL ABOUT OUR ICE FISHING IN RUKA

Dressed for comfort, not fashion

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW

Sitting in the sleigh you can relax under a warm reindeer hide and admire the starry sky of a wintry night. Only when the slopes close to the skiers for the day does our Starlit Sleigh Ride journey begin. An exhilarating ride that takes us up and over the slopes to Ruka Valley. The snowmobile weaved through snowy pine forests and along snow covered trails that were barely lit by the lights of the snowmobile. Aside from the temporary noise of the snowmobile engine, the night was calm and very peaceful. After a short journey of around 10 minutes or so, the snowmobile ground to a halt. On our right an open frozen lake, and to our left pine forests. In the dark we could make out the silhouette of a log cabin nestled among the snow-covered pine trees.

Antti leading and lighting the way

STAR LIGHT, STAR BRIGHT

Antti wasted no time in lighting a fire to keep us all warm on this cold winter night. Birch being the burning wood of choice. Birch bark peels and burns just like paper, making it the perfect kindling for starting a fire. The fire was soon roaring. Lily-Belle and Matilda sat enchanted as the embers danced skyward toward the bright stars. The fire gave off great heat. As we chatted about Finnish winter, Antti produced sausages and rye bread from his cool box. Both foods seem to be a staple diet of Suomalaiset (Finns). From what we can gather, no one, and we do mean no one; leaves home without a knife, a flint and a packet of sausages! Kettles were filled with water and placed on the fire grate. Do I smell coffee?

Keeping warm by the camp fire

The key to a great night is the camp fire

Flickering embers of love, I’ve known one or two

HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Lily-Belle and Matilda played in the deep soft snow beside the log cabin as the sausages sizzled. Although the night sky was clear and the stars were out in abundance, the Northern Lights had not been predicted to show. We were a little disappointed as today, the 5th March 2019; happened to be our 15th wedding anniversary. Nonetheless, what a great way to spend this special day, drinking great coffee and eating sausages by an open fire whilst admiring the beautiful sky above Finnish Lapland…spectacular!

READ ALL ABOUT OUR NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNT IN FINNISH LAPLAND

Camping, natures very own therapy

A dark starry night in Ruka, Finnish Lapland

AMAZING PEOPLE MAKE AMAZING COFFEE

After a very early start to our day to take the girls skiing, Matilda began to flag. After all, it had been a very long day and it was now past her bed time. Exhausted, Matilda curled up on the wooden bench and began to doze off. I removed my Rukapalvelu Safarihouse snowsuit and covered Matilda to keep her warm…the little lamb was asleep in seconds! Daddy, Mummy, Lily-Belle and Antti sat beside the smoking fire eating sausages, cheese on rye bread and drinking coffee. And just as Henri made great coffee during our Ice Fishing in Ruka, Antti did the same. One thing I will say about the Finnish people is that they make great, no…unbelievably tasty coffee. The coffee aroma and flavour are definitely among the best I’ve ever tasted.

Never wake a sleeping child…ever

A well kept fire is a cosy fire

IF YOU SNOOZE YOU LOSE

After our tasty treat of sausages, cheese on rye bread, coffee and hot berry juice; a brief walk. Matilda was rudely awakened. A short stroll through the pine trees to track animal footprints that had been left in the deep snow. The most common footprints we saw was rabbit, and just to say; the rabbits in Finland are not like rabbits in the UK or Ireland. Finnish rabbits are pure white in winter and absolutely huge, the size of a cocker spaniel if not bigger. Other footprints were from squirrels, and birds. Lily-Belle and Matilda loved this part of the Starlit Sleigh Ride excursion the most. The snow was so much deeper in and around the pine forest and almost swallowed the girls whole. A brilliant way to end our Starlit Sleigh Ride and then the journey back to base.

Be safe, be seen

Squirrel footprints in the snow

Rabbit tracks in the snow

WOULD WE GO BACK?

Before the throttle could ease on the snowmobile, we’d be back. There’s something truly magical about looking up at the diamond-like stars on a clear night. For me, the stars are a calming influence for our souls. The Starlit Sleigh Ride was a great way to spend our 15th Wedding Anniversary. And although the Northern Lights failed to show, we did see them later that evening back at our cabin in Ruka. We also saw them a few days later on our Aurora Hunt with Mikko.

With a very special THANK YOU to:

Rukapalvelu Safarihouse – for your exceptional kindness, warmth and generosity.

Pirjo – for your kindness, communication and for organising our excursions.

Antti – for a wonderful evening on the Starlit Sleigh Ride, for keeping us warm and for great coffee.

We are very grateful to each of you for making our trip to Ruka memorable. Our Starlit Sleigh Ride excursion was romantic and thoroughly enjoyable. Hope to see you all in 2020, but until then…Hyvästi nyt.

LILY-BELLE SAYS (10) It was a really cold night and the camp fire was nice and warm, the hot berry juice was tasty. I liked our trek through the snow looking at the different animal footprints.

MATILDA SAYS (4) I was very tired. The camp fire was nice but I didn’t like the hard bread. Why can’t they cook chicken nuggets and pizza?

Travel Itinerary

Starlit Sleigh Ride Excursion: booked with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse in Ruka. How to Book: we recommend contacting Rukapalvelu Safarihouse via their website prior to your trip. Website: click to visit Rukapalvelu Safarihouse Contact Tel: (00)358 10 2710 500 Pricing: adults €69pp – children under 12 €35pp Price Includes: guide, equipment, transportation and snack/drinks (meet/return to Safarihouse in Ruka) Date of visit: 5th March 2019

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Information, currency and prices are correct at the time of publishing. Views, opinions and experiences are that of The Callaghan Posse and are correct at the time of publication. Photos, unless credited, are taken by The Callaghan Posse for use and distribution by Around The World In 18 Years. Images and content may not be used or copied (private or commercial) without obtaining prior permission.

[AD disclaimer: our Starlit Sleigh Ride excursion from Rukapalvelu Safarihouse was gratis in return for social media and blog coverage]

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FINNISH LAPLAND: STARLIT SLEIGH RIDE Living on the island of Ireland we are very fortunate to live in a rural area with zero light pollution.

#Finnish Lapland #Ruka #Rukapalvelu Safarihouse #Starlit Sleigh Ride

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aroundtheworldin18years · 6 years ago

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Located just 200 km to the South East of Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle, Ruka is a thriving little village in Finnish Lapland. Close to the Russian border, the landscape is stunning in winter with beautiful snow-capped forests and frozen lakes covered with deep powdery snow. Ruka is famed for having snow for more than 200 days of the year, which is why the Ruka Village attracts so many winter tourists. In March, snow clouds give way to clear blue skies and the low sunshine streams through the abundant pine forests. Having visited Finnish Lapland in 2016, we knew what to expect from the weather and had high hopes for our planned excursions with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse; which included Ice Fishing in Ruka.

Ruka Village in Finnish Lapland

The main square at Ruka Village in Finnish Lapland

FREEZING, FISHING AND FLAT BATTERIES

Outside the temperature was -30°C and our first holiday excursion is Ice Fishing, or ‘Pilkki’ as it’s known in Finland; booked with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse for 09:00. It’s extremely cold, it’s extremely early and it’s beginning to dawn on us that maybe Ice Fishing in Ruka wasn’t the best idea for the first morning of our holiday! Nonetheless, we get dressed like onions with lots of layers in the hope of keeping the cold at bay. Overnight there had been a flurry of snow and the car had to be cleared and defrosted. Unfortunately, our cabin neighbour had parked in front of our Hertz hire car blocking us in. Politely we asked them if they could move their car, they couldn’t…flat battery! After jump starting the dead car we embarked on a short 15 minute journey to Rukapalvelu Safarihouse for Ice Fishing in Ruka.

Lakeside accommodation In Ruka, Finnish Lapland

Rukapalvelu Safarihouse in Ruka Village

IF THE SHOE FITS, WEAR IT…AND GLOVES, AND HATS

Rukapalvelu Safarihouse is situated right in the heart of Ruka and is the meeting point for all of their excursions. At reception we were warmly greeted by Senja and introduced to Henri, who would be our Ice Fishing guide for the day; both of whom spoke perfect English. Henri lead us to the back of the shop and informed us that we would have to put on even more clothes in order to keep warm whilst Ice Fishing in Ruka on the frozen lake. Rukapalvelu Safarihouse provide all the clothing that you need for an excursion.

A very warm reception in a very cold Ruka Village

A very well stocked and organised equipment room

Equipment and clothing at Rukapalvelu Safarihouse in Ruka.

DRESS TO IMPRESS OR DRESS TO KEEP WARM, YOUR CHOICE

To add a little extra warmth, Henri advised us to wear our own clothes and simply add a Rukapalvelu Safarihouse snowsuit over the top for extra insulation. Surprisingly, Henri also informed us that we would be swapping our own snug and comfy ski socks and boots for merino wool socks that your Granny would wear…and, as Henri put it; ‘boots that are far too big’! I chose not to wear the socks as I have a ‘thing’ about feet (other peoples) and putting my own little piggy’s into other peoples socks or shoes…big no no! There was a method in his madness! If your boots are tight or snug, your feet get colder much quicker. However, if you have space in the boot, air warms and circulates around the feet keeping them toasty. Ice Fishing in Ruka tested this theory and yes, it works remarkably well!

Cover up, you’ve got a bear behind.

Ice Fishing is the ‘reel’ deal.

P-P-P-PICK UP A PENGUIN

Wrapped up to the point that little Matilda was waddling like a p-p-p-penguin, and Lily-Belle was about to faint, we promptly jumped into the bus. Our next stop…Ice Fishing on Lake Ruka. You’ve all seen or heard of the Michelin Man right….well, enough said! The sun was low and the wintry landscape of forests and lakes was stunning, even if it was -25°C . Thankfully the day was calm and no breeze, which, no doubt; would have made it feel much colder on the frozen open lake. I’ve done plenty of lake fishing in my time and know for certain that when it’s cold, fish tend to seek out deeper water. With that in mind, and the fact that it was fr-fr-freezing cold, I was optimistic of catching at least one fish. And just to note, Daddy and Mummy are hugely competitive so it really was game on!

Henri and Matilda, best ice fishing buddies.

A view of Ruka Lake

A lonesome penguin searches for the frozen Ruka Lake

ICE FISHING AT LAKE RUKA

On the open lake Henri produced a large manual ice auger (drill) to penetrate through the 60 cm thick ice. Of course, Henri made it look easy so I had to have a go myself. And, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy-but-tiring it actually was to make a hole in the ice. After making 5 holes, a stool was placed beside each and we all found our spot. Lunch for the fish would be little red maggots, and lunch for us would be fish…hopefully! As each hook was baited and lowered through the ice hole into the lake, we sat chatting about Finland, its cultures, its folklore and of course, its weather. Every now and then Ice Fishing in Ruka would cease briefly in order to remove ice that began to gather at the top of the ice hole. 20 minutes in…no fish!

Sending a maggot to his watery grave. R I P

Henri drilling through the ice at Ruka Lake

ANGELS AND CASTLES

On top of the frozen lake there was plenty of soft snow to keep the girls occupied if they got bored of Ice fishing in Ruka. Children…short attention span! Matilda made merry in the fluffy snow by making snow-angels, and Lily-Belle attempted to make snow castles but the snow was too powdery. Bump….Henri had a bite, but unfortunately the bite didn’t convert to a fish on this occasion, or the next, or the next! I was beginning to think that there was a chap under the ice, employed by Rukapalvelu Safarihouse, to tug the line to maintain our Ice Fishing interest. Of course, this thought would be improbable….wouldn’t it? In turn we all got bites but we all failed to land any fish.

There’ always one that gets away, or two, or three

Now I know what a garden gnome feels like

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

After 90 minutes of fishing, Henri produced lunch…not fish, cheese on rye bread with hot berry juice and coffee. Rye bread, if you haven’t tried it; is dry, hard and crusty. But, in its favour is the flavour and the fact that it’s healthier than white bread. I had an idea! Back in the UK when I once fished for carp, I would often use bread as bait. Thread the hook through the crust, then hide the hook in the bread flake. Would I be able to tempt a roach or indeed any species of fish from the watery depths? The bread bait was only in the water for seconds and bump, I had a decent fish on…gently, line tight and nooooooooo, fish off! The one that got away…it was t h i i i i i i s (stood here with my arms outstretched) big! Honest it was!

A spot of lunch at Ruka Lake

Matilda drinking cold ‘hot’ berry juice at Ruka Lake

Sisters and fishing friends

A BIG FISHY FAIL

Our Ice Fishing excursion drew to a close just as the wind was beginning to pick-up and the snow began to fall. Ok, so we didn’t manage to land any fish (cold weather, fish move to deep water, I said it earlier) but we did have an amazing morning Ice Fishing in Ruka with Henri. A great character, full of charm and he just loves to chat about his fishing trips. Henri is a great ambassador of Rukapalvelu Safarihouse and a perfect host, plus he makes a great cup of ‘Joe’!

Trying to find ‘the one that got away’

A great cup of ‘joe’

RIVER FLOATING IN RUKA

After returning to Rukapalvelu to return our clothing we took a short tour around Ruka Village. The following day we’d be returning to Ruka Village for the girls to ski. As we didn’t catch any ‘whoppers’ or indeed any fish whilst Ice Fishing in Ruka, we opted for lunch at Hanki Baari. Simple wholesome food but delicious and in a cosy retro-ski environment. I hasten to add that had we indeed caught any fish, it was strictly ‘catch and release’ so no fish would have been harmed. On the way back to our cabin we came across a group of people on a River Floating excursion with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse. I stopped to take photos and I really can’t wait to return and give this a try as it looks like so much fun!

It’s always difficult flushing a floater

Moving forward one ripple at at time

Letting cares and troubles float away

WOULD WE GO BACK?

In the flick of a fishy fin yes we would. Ruka is in a great location to explore the Finnish landscape with or without a guide. Rukapalvelu Safarihouse has year round activities but in winter, as well as Ice Fishing in Ruka; they offer starlit sleigh rides, snowmobile safaris, husky sled rides, river floating and snowshoeing. Plenty for everyone to enjoy and I’ll definitely return to do the river floating, looked amazing!

With a very special THANK YOU to:

Rukapalvelu Safarihouse – for your exceptional kindness and generosity.

Pirjo – for your efficient communication and for organising our excursions.

Henri – for a great morning ice fishing, for keeping us safe and for a lovely lunch.

We are very grateful to you for making our trip to Ruka memorable and our Ice Fishing excursion lots of fun. Hope you enjoyed the Bailey’s Irish cream…see you all in 2020.

LILY-BELLE SAYS (10) Getting dressed in lots of different clothes was really stressful but I enjoyed the ice fishing. Maybe next time we’ll catch a fish. The snow on the lake was really deep and fluffy but now I know why there’s no snowmen in Finland, it’s difficult to make one!

MATILDA SAYS (4) I liked the ice fishing lots but enjoyed making snow angels more. The hot berry juice was delicious when it went cold but the sandwich was hard and a bit yucky, I didn’t like it!

Travel Itinerary

Ice Fishing Excursion: booked with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse in Ruka. How to Book: we recommend contacting Rukapalvelu Safarihouse via their website prior to your trip. Website: click to visit Rukapalvelu Safarihouse Contact Tel: +(00)358 10 2710 500 Pricing: from €89pp – children under 12 are half price, children under 4 are free Price Includes: guide, equipment, snack and transportation (meet/return to Safarihouse in Ruka) Date of visit: 4th March 2019

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[AD disclaimer: our Ice Fishing in Ruka excursion from Rukapelvelu Safarihouse was gratis in return for social media and blog coverage]

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FINNISH LAPLAND: ICE FISHING IN RUKA Located just 200 km to the South East of Rovaniemi and the Arctic Circle, Ruka is a thriving little village in Finnish Lapland.

#Finnish Lapland #Ice Fishing #Ruka #Rukapalvelu Safarihouse

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aroundtheworldin18years · 6 years ago

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For the second time in as many years, our urge to travel has taken us back to the wondrous winter wonderland of Finnish Lapland. In winter, Jack Frost nips at your nose, and toes and fingers ache from the bitter cold. Trees bend, heavily laden with snow and your woolly hat makes your head itch like a flea-bitten reindeer. But guess what…we absolutely love it! In 2016 when we visited Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi, there simply wasn’t enough time to do all of the winter activities we would have liked. So, March 2019, we decided to return to Scandinavia but this time with a visit to both Ruka and Rovaniemi. Our excursions had been pre-booked with Rukapelvelu Safarihouse in Ruka, and Aurora Hunting – Rovaniemi / Levi to ‘hopefully’ see the spectacular Northern Lights. Just to say, the Northern Lights eluded us in 2016.

Finnish Lapland in winter

A SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE SURPRISE

After arriving at Santa Claus’ Official Airport in Rovaniemi, hire car collected we made our way to nearby Santa Claus Holiday Village. On our previous trip we became friendly with the owners, lovely Inga and Marco; and had a little ‘Irish’ gift for them. Pulling into the Santa Claus Holiday Village car park we could see that there’d been a lot of changes. A new reception area, restaurant and luxury apartments. Surprising Inga in Reception we were blessed to receive a guided tour of the new Reception and 3 Elves Restaurant. Modern yet continuing with traditional Finnish accents throughout. Huge wooden beams, authentic reindeer hides, cosy snugs, a sizeable mezzanine floor and a well-stocked wine case. An outstanding piece of Finnish architecture and lit beautifully at night.

Special times with special friends

3 Elves Restaurant

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES BUT SHHHH, DON’T TELL ANYONE

After a short while Marco arrived and we all sat chin-wagging over coffee. Inga and Marco would be leaving Santa Claus Holiday Village for a few days to celebrate (quietly) Marco’s 50th (shhh, don’t tell anyone) birthday. Lynne was also celebrating a big birthday…40 and, it was also our 15th wedding anniversary! Chatting about our Scandinavian travel plans to Inga and Marco, they very generously offered us the opportunity to stay at the brand new luxury apartments for a couple of nights…a very early Christmas present for 2019. Definitely wasn’t on the cards but we gratefully accepted, we’d be coming back to the place that we love so much, Santa Claus Holiday Village. But not before a few days in Ruka for the girls to ski. Our temporary farewells were bid with fondness and we began our 200km journey South-East to Ruka.

READ ALL ABOUT OUR VISIT TO SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE IN 2016

A magical wonderland, dancing night skies and glögi (mulled wine). Embrace your inner child and allow yourself to become encapsulated in the winter wonderland that awaits at Santa Claus Holiday Village.

FROM ROVANIEMI TO RUKA

The journey to Ruka should have taken around 2.5 hours but actually took us a little under 5 hours! The stunning scenery in Finnish Lapland gave us far too may opportunities to stop, take photos and marvel at the beauty of this wintry wonderland, and why not? At the side of the road, and blending almost invisibly into the snowy surroundings; white rabbits as big as Cocker Spaniels; frolic and play. Reindeer scrub away at the deep snow with their nose foraging for grass. We seriously love Finland in winter! Just need a summer stay now and then get a t-shirt with ‘been there in winter, done that in summer’ printed on the front and back!

Two’s company, three’s a crowd…or is it a herd?

Deep winter snow in Finnish Lapland

LANGUAGE ISN’T ALWAYS A BARRIER

It was late evening when we arrived in Ruka at the little cottage, booked through Interhome; overlooking the bay of Hietalahti on the Kitka River. The snow was much deeper in Ruka than in Rovaniemi and it was also much colder. Our non English speaking host met us outside the cottage, and through the amazing technology of Google Translate; we were able to communicate with each other. The cottage had been heated pending our arrival and we were thankful that it had. Not as modern as some of the places we’ve stayed when traveling but the cottage was clean, wonderfully warm and everything we could possibly need. After lighting the fire the car was emptied and we prepared what we needed for the following days excursion…Ice Fishing in Ruka booked with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse.

All the comforts of home…but smaller.

ICE FISHING IN RUKA WITH RUKAPALVELU SAFARIHOUSE

Morning came around rather quickly and outside the temperature was -30°C. Our first holiday excursion was Ice Fishing, or ‘Pilkki’ as it’s known in Finland; booked with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse for 09:00. It was extremely cold, it was extremely early and it was beginning to dawn on us that maybe Ice Fishing wasn’t the best idea for the first morning of our holiday! Nonetheless, we dressed like onions (lots of layers) in the hope of keeping the cold at bay. Overnight there had been a flurry of snow and the car had to be cleared and defrosted. Unfortunately, our cabin neighbour had parked in front of our car blocking us in. Politely we asked them if they could move their car, they couldn’t…flat battery! After jump starting the dead car we embarked on a short 15 minute journey to Rukapalvelu Safarihouse for Ice Fishing in Ruka.

READ ALL ABOUT OUR ICE FISHING IN RUKA

Are you sure this hole is big enough?

SKIING IN RUKA

After a great morning Ice Fishing in Ruka, Lily-Belle and Matilda were eager to hit the slopes. So, after spot of lunch at Hanki Baar, we made our way to the ski hire shop. For us, this was the worst experience of the entire holiday, the staff were unfriendly and made zero effort to assist. There was also an overcharge of €40 that we didn’t see until we were back at the cottage that evening (rectified with minimal fuss the following day). After getting boots, skis, helmets and poles for the girls we took the new Village-2-Valley scenic gondola over the mountain. As Mummy and I are non-skiers we loved the idea of the Rosa and Rudolf Family Park, an all-family snow park situated in the Ruka Valley. Perfect conditions for skiing with clear blue skies, sunshine and zero wind. Ruka seemed like the perfect winter ski holiday choice!

Ruka Ski Resort

ROSA AND RUDOLPH FAMILY PARK

The Rosa and Rudolph Family Park was quiet, as were the slopes. Not once did the girls queue to use the rolling carpets (24m, 50m, 80m, 100m). Lily-Belle and Matilda were content going up the rolling carpet and down the gentle slopes of their own accord. The sun was shining brightly in the sky but it was bitterly cold at -22°C. After an hour or so skiing we took refuge in a hut halfway up the slopes, or was it halfway down? Toasty warm and a bbq right in the centre. We soon learned that Finnish people don’t leave home without a packet of sausages, a knife and a flint of some sort to light a fire. Skiers arrived sporadically and loaded the bbq with sausages….Matilda looked on longingly, her bottom lip quivering! And not one person offered her a sausage, poor little mite!

Rosa and Rudolph Family Park in Ruka, Finland

Rollin’, rollin’ rollin’…rawhiiiiide!

BBQ Hut…halfway up, or halfway down?

Did someone says sausages?

DON’T BE A TUBE

As well as skiing, within the Rosa and Rudolph Family Park was tubing. Sit on a big inflatable tube and slide down a sloped snow chute. Feeling the cold air rush your face as you speed down the chute and ride the steep ice wall at the bottom was thrilling and loads of fun! Darkness soon began to fall and after another hour of skiing, Lily-Belle and Matilda had had enough. Seeing all of those sizzling sausages had made us all hungry. Rather than dine out we stopped at Lidl to do a small shop and then returned to our cottage by the lake. Our evening was spent playing in the snow and scanning the night sky looking for the dancing lights; followed by toasting marshmallows by the open fire and watching subtitled TV.

Tubing at Rosa & Rudolph Family Park, Ruka

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A RESTLESS NIGHT IN RUKA

After a restless night due to uncomfortable beds, we rose in Ruka to another day of blue skies. Breakfast in the cottage then a few pictures of the frozen lake. Such a beautiful location to enjoy the nature of Finland and our 15th wedding anniversary. After a spot of lunch we returned to the slopes in Ruka Village for more skiing and tubing. The one thing we loved about skiing in Ruka was how quiet the park was in March. There’s a lot of construction work going on beside the Rosa and Rudolph Family Park but the building work isn’t disruptive to the slopes. A brand new Ruka Valley Village with apartments and restaurants which should be ready for the 2020 season. In the evening we had a Starlit Sleigh Ride to look forward to!

Enjoying the slopes skiing in Ruka

Thumbs up for tubing in Ruka

STARLIT SLEIGH RIDE IN RUKA WITH RUKAPALVELU SAFARIHOUSE

Living on the island of Ireland we are very fortunate to live in a rural area with zero light pollution. On a clear night the stars shine brightly and many of our galaxy constellations can be seen. How on earth can we top that? Well, maybe if we had a snowmobile, a sleigh and a reindeer hide for warmth we’d be close! That’s exactly what we had when we took a Starlit Sleigh Ride with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse in Ruka. Having already done Ice Fishing in Ruka with the same company, we knew our evening would be enjoyable. And who knows, maybe we’d get to see the spectacular Northern Lights on our 15th wedding anniversary!

READ ALL ABOUT OUR STARLIT SLEIGH RIDE IN RUKA

Starry night above Ruka

SHINE BRIGHT LIKE A DIAMOND

Unfortunately, the Northern Lights failed to put in an appearance on our Starlit Sleigh Ride with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse, but all was not lost! Back at the cottage the ladies slipped into their onesies but I had other plans. I checked online and knew there was a small chance of seeing the Northern Lights from 22:00 – 01:00. Camera and tripod in hand and wrapped up snug, I made my way to the bay of Hietalahti on the Kitka River; just 20 yards from the cottage! There they were, a faint shimmer of wispy green light above the darkened tree line…the Northern Lights. Very faint, but the Northern Lights nonetheless! I rang Mummy’s mobile but the girls were asleep. I sat and admired the dancing Auroras on my Jack Jones! Gutted the ladies didn’t get to see them, but ecstatic that I did…and I had the photo to prove it!

The mesmerising Northern Lights

FROM RUKA TO ROVANIEMI

As with most Airbnb and Interhome properties we had to check out before noon. Our morning was spent cleaning the cottage before we said goodbye to our Finnish hosts and began our journey to A Cosy Cottage by the River in Rovaniemi. On route the snow fell and visibility was poor. Once again we came across foraging reindeer in an open field that was covered with deep snow. Shortly after 18:00 we arrived in Rovaniemi and drove down the long lane to our accommodation, A Cosy Cottage by the River. Darkness was upon us and we were greeted by a smile and three wagging tails; our host Samuli and his three adorable Gordon setters.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF A COSY COTTAGE BY THE RIVER

Best friends….’fur’ever.

Two Gordon Setters are better than one.

Fascinating fact: Finnish reindeer aren’t wild…oh no! Apparently, all reindeer are owned by someone, normally a Sámi; and asking a Sámi how many reindeer they have is highly offensive! It’s a bit like asking a person how much money they have in their bank account! Even though you want to know…don’t do it!

A COSY COTTAGE BY THE RIVER

One of Mummy’s 40th birthday requests was to stay in a hotel with a hot tub and lake view. I honestly think A Cosy Cottage by the River was better than any hotel I could have booked! After playing with the pups, Lily-Belle and Matilda were both tired and hungry. In such a beautiful setting, we didn’t want to leave but had no choice, we all required fed! For tonight, takeaway kebabs and pizza would suffice! Mummy began to trickle fill the hot tub in the hope it would be filled upon our return…it wasn’t! An early night was planned but the girls couldn’t resist going on the kick sleds. My phone pinged and Mikko informed me by text that the Northern Lights would be out. Camera on tripod, the lights appeared at the end of the long lane leading to A Cosy Cottage by the River.

The magical Northern Lights

Sledding under the Northern Lights

Let there be light….

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE

After a while I took the girls to bed and left Mummy to her own accord, her own accord being that she was determined to heat the hot tub so she could use it on her 40th birthday the following morning. Just to say, for the hot tub to reach 37°C, the required temperature; takes 5-6 hours to heat from cold. Patiently, Mummy popped in and out into the early hours of the morning to load birch wood into the wood fired hot tub. Wanting to capture the sunset, Mummy woke early and once again began the process of loading wood into the wood fired hot tub. The hot tub wasn’t quite to temperature, but at 07:30, on her 40th birthday; Mummy sat and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings of the wilderness and watched the a beautiful sunrise over River Raudanjok!

Gotta fill it before you chill in it

The early bird catches the sunrise

MUMMY’S BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

By the time the girls and I raised our heads off the soft plump pillows, the croissants were already warming in the oven. As Mummy enjoyed her tranquil surroundings, Lily-Belle and Matilda got Mummy’s 40th birthday pressies ready. The ladies even had Mummy’s favourite board game Monopoly, in Finnish of course; ready to go. Just to note, I absolutely loathe Monopoly…Frustration, now there’s a board game that I love! Thankfully the game was abandoned once the warm buttery croissants were ready. Delicious!

Happy 40th Birthday Mummy

40…it’s the new 30

Buy, buy, buy….Monopoly

Fresh baked croissants

TREAD CAREFULLY

Wrapped up warm it was time to venture outside. The previous evening Samuli had informed us that it was safe to venture out on to the frozen river (with caution, as some parts don’t freeze). Treading carefully, ice creaking and groaning; I couldn’t resist venturing out to the centre to take a few pictures. The girls were more than happy using the sleds on the snow covered slopes of the garden. The sled slopes were well bedded, we presume by the previous occupants, and fellow travel blogger; the lovely Kate Bridges. Meantime, Mummy tended to the hot tub like a new Mummy tends to her newborn baby! In the shed we found snowshoes and…well, disaster! I sank to my knees in the soft deep snow and the girls fell this-way-and-that…hilarious!

Sledding is soooo much fun, but walking back isn’t!

Who put that tree there?

KICK SLEDS ARE SO MUCH FUN

A Cosy Cottage by the River has so much to enjoy; we never got the chance to try out the bbq hut but we will on our next visit in 2020. To truly appreciate the cottage you really should stop en route to pick up provisions and not leave the cottage for a few days. Our favourite activity by far was the kick sleds; amazing fun zipping at speed down the pine tree lined lane! Lily-Belle and Matilda took to the sleds with minimal fuss and we even had a ‘You’ve Been Framed’ moment when Lily-Belle was unceremoniously dumped off the back of the kick sled and Mummy crashed into the snow verge! Did Matilda and I stop to assist….naaaaaaaah, we laughed as we slid by to cross the finish line and take the victory! Kick sled champions of Rovaniemi 2019.

Kick Sleds at a Cosy Cottage by the River, Rovaniemi

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HOT TUB AND A HEADACHE

Finally, a little R&R in the hot tub! Mummy couldn’t get her head around why a hot tub had no bubbles! I explained (many times) that a hot tub is hot water and a Jacuzzi (brand name) is hot water AND bubbles! I could have explained astrophysics to a monkey quicker! After partially heating the water the night before, the hot tub only took a couple of hours to reach 37°C. Once the hot tub reaches the desired temperature, we only needed to top up the wood burner every half hour. One couldn’t imagine a more beautiful cottage to be looking out over the frozen river. The feeling of snow flakes as they land on your head, whilst your submerged body is toasty and warm; is more than invigorating. Just one word…bliss! Later in the day we met with our good friend Mikko and his beautiful family.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF A COSY COTTAGE BY THE RIVER

A Cosy Cottage by the River

A MESMERISING DISPLAY OF DANCING AURORA’S

Back in 2016, when we first visited Santa Claus Holiday Village; the lights failed to put on a show and we left extremely disappointed! Thankfully though, we did get to meet Mikko whilst visiting Snowman World. Mikko is an Aurora Hunter and Photographer and through Facebook we stayed in touch and have become good friends. As a family we were excited to return in March 2019 to meet with Mikko and his wonderful family. Mikko had also kindly offered to take us on an Aurora Hunt…would we see them this time?

READ ALL ABOUT OUR NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNT IN FINNISH LAPLAND

TIME FLIES IN FINLAND

After our amazing night with Mikko and his family, and seeing the Aurora Borealis dance in the night sky; our time had come to leave A Cosy Cottage by the River. Next stop…Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi, just 20 km away. On route there was an ‘incident’. Mummy, Matilda and Lily-Belle were on their ipads and phones so I was the driver and spotter for Finnish wildlife. A brief glance to the left and bosh…I’d slid into the deep snow verge. Thankfully a Finnish local stopped and pulled us out of the ditch and once again Google Translate came in handy. Our incident took 2 hours to get back on the road, 1h 58m of head scratching and 2 mins to pull the car out! Back on the road we stopped off at Yuca, a Mexican Street Food diner in Rovaniemi; for lunch and to laugh at our misfortune!

The snow….came out of nowhere officer

What can I say other than….oh poo!

YUMMY FOOD AT YUCA

Yuca was exceptionally busy but thankfully we were seated after a short wait. Our server Mikko spoke perfect English and we chatted as we looked over the menu. There’s a lovely story about the ‘birth’ of Yuca and here it is in a nutshell. Taqueria is a Mexican Restaurant in Tulum, Mexico. Juha, the main owner of Yuca (stay with me) visited Taqueria and enjoyed the food so much, he invited the owners, Fernando and Fernanda (yup, that’s their names); to visit him in Rovaniemi and help establish one of the best Mexican eateries in Finland. Although we’ve only tried one Mexican restaurant in Finland, Yuca, we do love Mexican food and eat it often. The food was excellent, the staff were excellent…Yuca IS excellent! High quality food at a reasonable price, visit and you won’t be disappointed!

Delicious quesadilla’s made fresh at Yuca

Everything is yummy at Yuca

Mexican food made for sharing

SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE

After a fine tapas feast of tacos, tostadas and a dessert of chocolate churros, our final holiday destination was calling, Santa Claus Holiday Village…and we couldn’t wait! Arriving at Santa Claus Holiday Village the snow was falling heavily. Entering Reception we bumped into Inga and Marco who were about to head away (birthday boy was turning 50) for a few days of fun. A brief chat, hugs, farewells and they were away, snowmobiles in tow. A warm welcome at reception and we were provided with a keycard to our accommodation. For the next two evenings we’d be staying in the brand new Holiday Suites. The hotel quality suites are named and decorated tastefully with Lappish themes: Snow, Reindeer, Northern Lights, Red Fox, and Snowy Night. Our Holiday Suite…Reindeer 204.

Reindeer art

Reindeer 204

HOLIDAY SUITES FIT FOR ROYALTY

They say ‘first impressions last’ and they most certainly do, the Reindeer Holiday Suite was outstanding. Daylight floods in through the superior windows and glass panelled doors which lead out on to the balcony. Spacious and elegant lounge and a master bedroom befitting royalty. Inga and Marco describe the Holiday Suites as ‘hotel like quality’, but I have to disagree, in my opinion, they are more superior than a hotel room. Each Classic Suite has a separate lounge with a double sofa bed, a luxurious main bedroom with a comfy Finnish-made double bed and wardrobes, a terrace with forest views, and a lavish bathroom with sauna. There’s also a mini kitchenette and mini dining table in every suite. Classic Suites are perfect for families of 2 + 2.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW OF THE HOLIDAY SUITES

Holiday Suites at Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi

3 Elves Restaurant lit at night

WHEN IN FINLAND…EAT PIZZA

After emptying the car and familiarising ourselves with the superb Holiday Suites at Santa Claus Holiday Village, a feed was required. The new 3 Elves restaurant was preparing to close but thankfully the original restaurant was open and serving food. Nothing too fancy, pizza and chips to share, and meatballs and chips for the girls. As we remembered from 2016, all delicious and tasty. It was a little after 21:00 when we left the restaurant and took a stroll around the deserted Santa Claus Village. In all honesty, we saw just two people the entire time! That’s the great thing about the village in March, early evening and the tourists disappear so those staying have the place to themselves (December it’s much busier). Lily-Belle and Matilda availed of the free sleds and found a huge pile of snow to sled down. The falling snow was getting heavier!

Pizza…made fir sharing…but not if you’re Matilda!

Quiet dining at Santa Claus Holiday Village

BREAKFAST WITH 3 ELVES

Morning arrived and after showers it was time to venture out to the new 3 Elves Restaurant for breakfast. There had been around 6 inches of soft powdery snow overnight, and snow was still falling heavily! Winter, especially when snow is falling and deep on the ground; is my favourite season of the year. I felt like a giddy child as I stuck my tongue out trying to catch snowflakes! To onlookers, I have no doubt that I probably looked like a deranged orangutan! Chefs worked busily preparing eggs to order and ensuring the breakfast trays were kept well stocked. Crispy bacon, pancakes and syrup is always a firm favourite with The Callaghan Posse and didn’t disappoint. Tired, a strong flavoursome coffee was needed, welcomed and drank swiftly…caffeine kick!

READ OUR TOP 18 – CHRISTMAS IN LAPLAND FIRST TIME TIPS

Croissants and berry juice shots…delicious

Breakfast is served

Self service breakfast at 3 Elves Restaurant

HOWLING HUSKY’S AT THE HUSKY PARK

After a hearty breakfast we took a short walk into Santa Claus Village and dropped in to Husky Park. In the first enclosure, through a perspex window; we could see a mother husky being suckled by her new born pups. So adorable and cute! Each husky pen has a plate detailing name, age, position within the pack and general info on the dog itself. Before entering the Husky Park we were warned to remove our gloves before petting the dogs, as the dogs have a tendency to steal gloves straight off the hand. Of course, we all howled in an attempt to get the husky’s to do the same, which they did. Hooooooooooowl!

ALWAYS let sleeping dogs lie

The husky’s pace frantically at times, and howl in an attempt to catch the attention of their owners. They are not sad, ill-treated or cold, they simply want to be part of the sled team and run. The majority of the dogs are friendly and can be petted, but the odd one will show its teeth as a warning. What we did was approach the cage, then hold the back of our bare hand just close enough for the husky’s to smell us. If they accepted us they brushed against the cage and presented themselves to be stroked, if they didn’t accept us, the dog simply growled and walked away. During our visit in 2016 we took a twilight Husky Sled Ride, on this occasion we decided petting and seeing the dogs was enough. Next stop, children’s snowmobiling with Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park.

Does what is says on the tine…Husky’s

Thankfully they don’t bite…and neither do the dogs

Mush….or should that be sose?

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

When we first visited Santa Claus Holiday Village in 2016, Lily-Belle was just 7. Her first attempt at snowmobiling was a disaster! A quick twist of the throttle and the sudden forward jerk scared her senseless and she refused to carry on! This time, Lily-Belle was more than happy to open the throttle, but Matilda got the fear…refused to even sit on the snowmobile! For just €20pp the children get 10 minutes to do as many laps as they can around a small circuit. As we had paid for two children, Lily-belle got to have 20 minutes of snowmobile fun…and she loved it, even asked if I would buy her a quad when we got home…er, no!

Snowmobile taster at Arctic Circle Snowmobile Park at Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi

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RUDOLPH HAD GONE AWOL

Not too far from Husky Park is Santa Claus Reindeer. Although we didn’t take a reindeer sleigh ride on this occasion, we did back in 2016, and loved it! Beside the entrance of the reindeer pen we stopped by the fire pit and warmed our chilly fingers and toes. Of course, we still had to get a few pictures stood beside Santa’s reindeer….but funny enough, not one of them had a bright red nose! Seemed Rudolph had deserted his post and gone awol! Maybe he was in the Post Office?

Rudolph the white nosed reindeer….doesn’t quite have the same ring to it!

PASSPORT TO PRISON

If you visit Finland and cross the Arctic Circle, there’s something that you should remember to do….and in 2016, we failed to do this task. And what is that task you may ask…it’s get your passport stamped! Ok, if you do…you’re doing so at your own risk and allow me to tell you why! Having your passport ‘unofficially’ stamped by the Santa Claus Village reception is technically classed as ‘defacing or altering’ your passport. Airport officials are well within their rights to refuse you entry/exit of the country. Don’t say we didn’t warm you! With our history of airports, mainly Mummy and past security issues, we really wondered if ‘defacing’ our passports would be a good idea. But hey ho, what’s the worse that could happen, we’d get to stay in Lapland until new passports arrived. Passports stamped! Time for an early evening meal at Santa’s Salmon Place.

Crossing the Arctic Circle

Passports stamped at the Arctic Circle – check.

SANTA’S SALMON PLACE

Not sure how we managed to miss Santa’s Salmon Place back in 2016…but somehow we did! Deliciously fresh salmon slow baked in an open fire in the centre of a Lappish tippee. As the only fish eater in the house, Mummy and the girls weren’t too enthralled at dining on salmon. The tippee is quite small and seating is limited, but the smells are more than pleasing as the flames lick at the salmon skin. Food heaven for me, food hell for the girls! Not all bad though, they did get to eat a delicious scandinavian cheesecake and heart shaped biscuits for dessert. Who’d have thought that a piece of salmon and a bread roll could taste so good…but it did! With full bellies we played in the snow before retiring to Reindeer 204 to pack away our winter clobber. Leaving for home the following day.

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IT’S NEVER GOODBYE…JUST HEI HEI

Morning arrived much too soon and we really did not want to leave Santa Claus Holiday Village. After clearing the car of deep snow, and packing the car, and dropping the room key back at reception; sadly, our visit to Santa Claus Holiday Village had come to an end. Santa Claus Holiday Village is a special place and we know we’ll return many, many times. Full of magic, full of wonder, full of the spirit of Christmas….a wintry wonderland that every person should try to visit at least once in their life time. Until the next time…hei hei!

WOULD WE GO BACK?

We’ve already booked to return in 2020. The stunning wintry landscape coupled with the friendly locals just makes Finland a favourite holiday destination of ours. We love snow, the deeper the better and the girls love Christmas…what more could we possibly need?

With a very special THANK YOU to:

Anna and Samuli – for your exceptional warmth and kindness, your cosy cottage is beautiful,

Inga and Marco – for your friendship and for your generosity, hope you liked our little gift,

Mikko Lantto and family – for an amazing night filled with laughter, food, friendship and Aurora hunting,

Rukapalvelu Safarihouse – for our excursions and for showing us the beautiful way of Finnish life…enjoy the Baileys.

We are very grateful to each and every one of you for your generosity, warmth, kindness and friendships. Looking forward to returning to Finnish Lapland and seeing you all in 2020.

LILY-BELLE SAYS (10)

Finland is becoming my favourite place to visit on holiday. Last time I came I didn’t do the snowmobile but really enjoyed it this time. Visiting the Husky Park was my favourite though, I really loved the Husky pups, and wanted to bring them all home.

MATILDA SAYS (4)

I really love the snow and sledding down the hills, it’s so much fun. The dogs were really fluffy and I liked it when the howled at me.

Travel Itinerary

Easyjet: Belfast to London 2nd March / 11th March 2019 (return): £246.42 (2A + 2C + 1 checked bag) Premier Inn London 2nd March 2019: £65 (1 night) Easyjet: London to Rovaniemi (return flights) 3rd March 2019: £215.38 (2A + 2C + 1 checked bag) Hertz Car Hire from Rovaniemi Airport: £343.83 (7 days) Ruka Cottage booked through Interhome 3rd March – 6th March 2019: £306.00 for 4 days / 3 nights A Cosy Cottage by the River booked through Airbnb 6th March – 8th March 2019: £230.00 for 3 days / 2 nights Santa Claus Holiday Village Holiday Suites 8th March – 10th March 2019: Gifted for 3 days / 2 nights

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[disclaimer: Gifted item(s) from Rukapalvelu Safarihouse were provided in return for social media and blog coverage. Our 2 night stay at Santa Claus Holiday Village was gifted by friends]

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FINNISH LAPLAND: RUKA AND ROVANIEMI For the second time in as many years, our urge to travel has taken us back to the wondrous winter wonderland of Finnish Lapland.

#Finnish Lapland #Husky Park #rovaniemi #Ruka #santa claus holiday village

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aroundtheworldin18years · 6 years ago

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Finland first captured our hearts when we visited Santa Claus Holiday Village back in the winter of 2016. Since then we’ve longed to return to this beautiful wintry wonderland to see more of Finnish Lapland’s natural beauty. In winter the lakes freeze and pine trees bend and sag under the load of heavy snow. Just as we fell in love with Italy a few years ago, we are now falling for Finland. So, why did we choose A Cosy Cottage by the River for our first holiday of 2019? After a couple of days in Ruka for the girls to ski, and for a few excursions with Rukapalvelu Safarihouse; we simply wanted a secluded cottage in a quiet location to chill out and take time to ourselves. And A Cosy Cottage by the River is exactly that…secluded and quiet!

The early bird catches the sunrise

LOCATION – A Cosy Cottage by the River

Built in 1987 this riverside property had a full refurbishment in 2015 and it has been catapulted into the 21st century. As with all Finnish homes, you’ll find lots of wood, primarily pine and lark. A Cosy Cottage by the River is exactly as described; it’s cosy, it’s a cottage and it’s just 20 metres from the River Raudanjoki. In a great location with spectacular views, 20 seems to be the magic number.

Santa Claus Holiday Village – 20 km (20 mins drive)

Ounasvaara Ski Resort – 20 km (20 mins drive)

Rovaniemi Town Centre – 20 km (20 mins drive)

Petrol station, supermarket and takeaway (kebabs, pizzas, burgers) – 17 km (17 mins drive)

As the location is isolated, a car is required to get to the cottage. There’s no public transport to the property (nearest bust stop 2 km away).

READ ALL ABOUT OUR 2016 TRIP TO SANTA CLAUS HOLIDAY VILLAGE

Santa Claus Holiday Village in Rovaniemi

ARRIVAL, CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT

Check in at A Cosy Cottage by the River is from 16:00, check out is before 12:00 (noon). Turning off the main road onto a very long lane which is shadowed by pine trees. Outside the accommodation we were warmly greeted by our host Samuli and his beautiful (and well trained) Scottish Setter dogs. Samuli introduced himself and then gave us a full rundown of entering the property (locks, keypad). Once inside, a guided tour of the property and an explanation of the working of the tv, chromecast, wifi password etc…very thorough and detailed. Lily-Belle and Matilda were very disappointed as they hoped the pups would be allowed to stay!

Matilda meeting the locals

Seeing a Scottish double

Lily-Belle’s new bestie

PROPERTY

Porch

A small porch with hanging space for coats, plus a tall heater-dryer. Plenty of space for shoes (shoes must not be worn in the house).

Dining Room

Open plan lounge-diner. A glass topped dining table and 6 chairs in the dining area. Lamps and candle holders create the mood lighting.

Lounge

In the lounge a comfy sofa, chair and pouffe, and a glass fronted fire. In the corner a small heater and a rocking chair with warm throws. Tech: TV, DVD, CD, Chromecast and WiFi throughout.

Kitchen

Just off from the lounge is the small but adequately fitted kitchen. Of course there’s the usual kitchen utensils and appliances such as a microwave, fridge-freezer, toaster, coffee machine etc. We were on our holidays so didn’t frequent this area too much (if you get what I mean…takeaways).

Bedroom 1

Large double bed with bedside cabinets and lamps. Large wardrobe with plenty of coat hangers and hanging space.

Bedroom 2

A little smaller than bedroom 1. Double bed with a chair and bedside lamps, hanging rail but no wardrobe.

Bathroom

As you’d expect; a toilet with a wash hand basin. There’s also a washing machine with cleaning products stored (mop, brush etc).

Shower

Shower room (almost like a wet room) with a door which leads directly to the rear of the property which is where the hot tub is located.

Sauna

As with a lot of Finnish properties, a fantastic indoor sauna (electric).

Upstairs

Sleeping Loft area with small sleeping room (mattress on the floor?) and sofas that we assume pulled out into beds. Low pitched ceilings so be careful not to crack your head. Daddy found out the hard way!

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OUTSIDE

Hot tub (a firm favourite with The Callaghan Posse), bbq hut, sauna hut, a large decked area and a very well-stocked woodshed. Great in Winter but I’d imagine this property would come into its own in the Spring, Summer and Autumn with romantic riverside walks and treks through the forests. But for us, winter wins every time!

Hot tub with great views of the river

Sauna and BBQ hut

A well-stocked woodshed

THINGS TO DO

As well as exploring the lovely pine forests or roaming the snow-covered land, there’s plenty to keep little ones occupied. At the property there’s plastic sleds and fantastic kick sleds to avail of in the winter. Lily-Belle and Matilda had hours of fun going up and down the long lane on them. In winter the frozen river makes a great playground and is the perfect vantage point for Seeing the Northern Lights. Of course there’s the superb hot tub for those wishing to relax and admire the frozen landscape. The hot tub was relatively quick to fill (60-90 minutes), and took a little over 5 hours to heat (it’s winter and it’s -28°C). There’s also board games and books. As our stay was only for 2 nights we didn’t use the indoor/outdoor sauna or the bbq hut…but we will next time!

READ ALL ABOUT OUR NORTHERN LIGHTS HUNT IN FINNISH LAPLAND

Kicking it on the kick sleds

Chillin’ in the hot tub

A frosty friend

FULL OF CHARACTER AND CHARM

Although the property is only 67 m2, what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in ‘character and charm’. Floors throughout are all wooden (painted) for ease of cleaning. All in all the property is surprisingly spacious, spotlessly clean and more than adequate for 6 people…fresh, modern and very homely. It’s seriously very difficult not to fall in love with A Cosy Cottage by the River. And the sunsets and sunrises are out of this world!

Sunrise over River Raudanjoki

WOULD WE GO BACK?

Before snow could settle on your head, yes we would….in fact, we’ve already booked to return in 2020. The beautiful modern cosy cottage is set in a stunning location. Being in close proximity to Rovaniemi and Santa Claus Holiday village, makes A Cosy Cottage by the River the perfect base camp. Outside hot tub, kick-sleds, a secluded and peaceful location…did we mention a hot tub. Book this fantastic AirBnB property and you won’t be disappointed.

With a very special THANK YOU to:

Anna and Samuli – for your exceptional warmth and kindness.

We are very grateful to you for your warm welcome and for allowing The Callaghan Posse to stay in your beautiful Cosy Cottage by the River. Looking forward to returning in 2020.

LILY-BELLE SAYS (10) The cottage was really modern and beautiful and located right beside a frozen river. The hot tub took quite long to heat up but was definitely worth the wait. The plastic sleds and kick-sleds were so much fun and I really enjoyed using them. I would definitively return to this cottage.

MATILDA SAYS (4) The snow was really deep and I had lots of fun on the kick-sleds with Lily-Belle. We saw the Northern Lights which was really good. The hot tub was too hot so Daddy put in snow to cool it down which was funny.

Travel Itinerary

AirBnB: click to visit A Cosy Cottage by the River Location: just 20 mins from Santa Claus Holiday Village Pricing: we paid £115 per night (from €110 to €130 per night, price depends on season) Price Includes: entire cottage (sleeps 6), all linen/towels, use of hot tub, sauna, bbq, sleds and kick-sleds. Date(s) of visit: 6th March – 8th March 2019 (3 days / 2 nights)

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REVIEW: A COSY COTTAGE BY THE RIVER Finland first captured our hearts when we visited Santa Claus Holiday Village back in the winter of 2016.

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