Rudolf, to name but one of these crazed animals would be sporting a red nose and Santa, somewhat awash with the spirit of the season, monotonously chanting “Ho, Ho, Ho” as a rush of wind dispelled the crumbs from his thick white beard. Before you ask, I still dutifully write my wish list and address it to S.Claus, Reindeer Dispatch Centre, Lapland on an annual basis and I was going to suggest that you do the same without delay to avoid disappointment, December is after all upon us – but read on.

I now find out that I have been the victim of a misunderstanding for the past 52 years, as I should have been writing to S.Claus, Ylläs, Finland, which is no doubt why I never received the canary yellow ten speed racing bike in the first place! Ylläs it appears, not only houses Santa’s winter residence and elfin HQ, but is reputably Finland´s finest ski resort, along with a catalogue of other winter activities. For the geographically sensitive, this Finnish winter resort is located above the Arctic Circle in Lapland.

If you yearn for an occasional dose of the cooler climate, together with a culture and language that is absolutely unique in Europe, you can of course buy property in this winter wonderland. Just out of interest genetically speaking, the whole of the indigenous population of Finland is descended from just six original families and the spoken language bears little or no resemblance to any other European tongue, which is why of course Mr.Tolkien borrowed more than a little vocabulary for ‘Lord of The Rings’.

When I use the term cooler, I apply it somewhat loosely as temperatures can drop as low as -40oC but average around -12oC. However your very own log cabin is built to a very high standard to withstand any adverse effects from the big freeze outside. The walls are constructed from kelo logs, a traditional Scandinavian timber which has matured for over 100 years and is known as ´dead standing´ wood. As a word of encouragement to sufferers from endemic hypothermia, while all cabins are super insulated courtesy of this ingenious natural overcoat, they also include a wood burning stove.

Should your imagination remain flooded with ‘Hollywood’ visions of hairy trappers swathed in bear skins, struggling for survival in a small wooden construction amidst the frozen wastes, then think again Prancer. We are conversing in a veritable Versace of luxury log cabins here and they come in configurations of one or two bedrooms, include a fully fitted kitchen with white goods, sauna, log store and heated car parking space. Each cabin is set amongst resin scented pine forests and all these ‘super-cabs’ offer an extra sleeping area in an open plan mezzanine and an additional toilet in the larger versions. A somewhat useful feature when a surfeit of Sahti has impaired your motor-neurone system. The most aristocratic offering actually sports three storeys, hence a bigger wooden hill to Bedfordshire than one might normally contemplate.

Your arctic retreat is available in several different styles and price ranges.

The ‘Teerentie’ one and two bedrooms at Euros 136,000 to 154,000, the ‘Lumipolku’ at Euros 185,000, ‘Hillankuku’ farmhouse style Euros 229,000 and the triple floor ‘Akaskrispo’ at Euros 265,000. From a naming point of view my previous allusions to curious linguistic construction are fully born out. However, if you find the idea of a chunky warm wood structure, with brightly lit windows twinkling beneath snow bent eaves charming in the first degree; then you are either destined for an arctic-ulate property investment or a career in the greetings card industry.

Therefore, if the prospect of winter sports make you throb with excitement and you are tired of the same old adventure playground investments; you may cast tradition aside and don the red velvet seventies concert suit with the fleecy edges and head hot foot to the Arctic circle. Call me a senile eccentric if you will, but mark my words this will become an affair of the heart.

“And why will I adore it?” you may ask. Well if you have a penchant for a life on the piste, Ylläs is renowned as one of Finland’s best and most extensive ski areas for both alpine and cross-country skiing, available between November and May. For those who wish to momentarily rack their equipment, perhaps I should rephrase that, the resort provides some quite off the ice wall excursions. Could I for instance interest you in a visit to the famous Ice Hotel or a Snowmobile, husky and reindeer safari perchance? On the basis that the Middle East is neither renowned for such indigenous species nor has an emerging market for snowmobiles, then these activities appear to be a must do.

Followed by a spot of ice-fishing for the ‘compleat angler’ - securely roped together with your fellow fisherman in the event that your bait attracts a quarry substantially larger than a pickled herring. The first hand illumination of the Northern Lights, Icelandic horse riding (how close this pursuit is to frozen rodeo I am unsure); and of course for the eternally juvenile (count me in), a visit to Santa at his secret home. “Would you care to pass the Amontillado and a wedge of that delicious fruitcake Claus old man.”

Skiing wise there are 58 slopes in the vicinity and within that, for those that are fully fledged down hillers, they are categorized as follows - 35 Blue, 18 Red, 5 Black, supported by 27 surface lifts. For the vigorously athletic, where did it all go wrong in my case, there is 280 kilometres of cross country skiing, with 38 kilometres illuminated. All the usual suspects in terms of facilities: two ski-schools, seven restaurants at the slopes (one of them at the top), three ski shops, child care, ski rental etc, etc and six hotels.

All the cabins offer a pre-arranged euro mortgage for 50 per cent of the value, with current interest rates at 3.25 per cent. Lapland is a realistic investment opportunity with year-round letting potential and over 10 per cent net yields. In actual fact, as you are signing up to become a fully licensed member of the arctic circle, the sun never sets.

Numerous charter flights are available from UK Airports to Kittila Airport in Finland. Ylläs is approximately one hour from the airport. Finnair (www.finnair.com) and Blue 1 discount airline (www.blue1.com) also have convenient flights connecting with Kittila from Helsinki and transfers are available once you arrive.

Personally I do not think that even in your wildest dreams you could stumble across a more exclusive address than ‘Akaskrispo’, Ylläs, Lapland. Well go on, make a wish, this could turn out to be the best property Christmas ever. Glad tidings and peace on earth never went amiss.