We can't promise they'll fly, or that any will have glowing red noses, but the 130 reindeer at the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre in Aviemore, Scotland, form the UK's only heart of Santa's favourite animal. They're tame and friendly, so you can feed and stroke them under supervision. Visit the website.
Teams of physicists and engineers may be working on the next Olympic bobsleigh designs right now, but their work is surely doomed to failure. Because nothing on Earth, ever, can possibly match the downhill slipperiness of a simple inner tube on snow. And not only is it fast, it has it's own safety cushion build in. Genius.
There aren't many winter days when you can climb outdoors, but thankfully you can always climb indoors. Clubs all over the country run classes for 8 to 18 year olds, catering for all levels. Find your nearest approved centre.
Science tells us that the Northern Lights are caused by a cloud of charged particles from the sun, interacting with the Earth's magnetic field. Finns call them 'revontulet', or 'fox fires', after the arctic fox that brushes fire accross the sky with it's tail. We know which story we prefer. In areas of low light pollution in northern Finland, you can see them on as many as 200 days a year - and, if you're lucky, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of them in northern Scotland.
Science tells us that the Northern Lights are caused by a cloud of charged particles from the sun, interacting with the Earth's magnetic field. Finns call them 'revontulet', or 'fox fires', after the arctic fox that brushes fire accross the sky with it's tail. We know which story we prefer. In areas of low light pollution in northern Finland, you can see them on as many as 200 days a year - and, if you're lucky, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of them in northern Scotland.
Riding can be both a leisure pursuit and a competitive sport, depending on how seriously you take it. In either case, it's great exercise and a brilliant way of getting out of the house in the winter. You can also get stuck in by looking after a horse - messy but fun. To find out how you can get involved, contact The Pony Club.
If you like dogs, snow and speed, dog sledding is the perfect winter activity for all the family. Either sit on the sled wrapped in furs and enjoy the view, or drive the dogs yourself - mush! Neilson offers excursions in Norway and Sweden as part of it's tours.
With our mild climate in the UK, we don't get a huge amount of snow, so be ready to don the Fat Face woollies when those first flakes fall for snowballs at dawn. Choose your weapon carefully:
1. The Soaker: best made with slushy snow, explodes on impact to leave it's target feeling soggy.
2. The Stinger: compacted snow that forms a firm ball and nips a bit on impact (aim below shoulder height).
3. The Hoodie: fill your rival's hood with snow then flip it up for a good chilling. Requires stealth and guile.
Liven up your ride by trying to spot some of these creatures of the wild.
Polar Bear: Lives in the Arctic and northern Canada. A hungry Polar Bear will kill anything it can - humans most definately included. So, unless you fancy a personal tour of their digestive system, carry a rifle or learn how to sprint like Linford Christie.
Yak: Yaks graze the plateaus of Tibet, the Himalayas and Mongolia. They have sticky, matted fur and a Quazimodo-like hunch, and crossbreed with unsuspecting cattle. So if you see a petrified cow, keep an eye out for the offending Yak - it's probably still nearby.
Yeti: The Yeti, Bigfoot, Sasquatch - whatever you call it, it's not that easy to spot. But if you do happen to lay eyes on it - in North America, the Himalayas, or anywhere else for that matter - make sure you take a suitably blurry photo and send it to a tabloid newspaper.
Golden Eagle: Soars the skies of the Scottish Highlands and other parts of northern Europe, as well as Asia, north Africa and North America. Forget rodents - these birds are real predators and hunt young deer and antelope. They're hard.
Grey Wolf: Found on the plains of Canada, northern America and Russia, as well as in some areas of Eastern Europe. Wolves don't eat every day and work up an appetite while waiting for prey - a hungry one can eat over 10kg of meat in one go. So if you clock one, throw it some Pedigree Chum and make a sharp exit.
When out enjoying a white wonderland, you may find the English language comes up a bit short on describing what you see. Help is at hand from our friends in the north, the Eskimos. Some say they have 100 words for snow, which could come in handy this winter. For example, next time you see a man with snow in his beard, just say wisely to your friends 'Check out his hiryla!'.
The beauty of snowboarding is in it's simplicity - no poles to carry around, no foot-squeezing ski boots and definately no lycra. And, of course, you can do it anywhere there's snow and a hillside. So whether you're in the Highlands, the Alps or somewhere further afield, sling your board on your back and off you go. Fat Face Team Rider and kiteboy Robbie Shire-Maidment, pictured here, first got on a board a year ago and he has only one thing to say about it: 'I'm hooked!'.
If built properly, an igloo can be warmer than a tent. You'll need a spade and a saw, lots of hard, dry snow, some snow-carving skills, temperatures that stay below zero and a little bit of effort. Once you've completed your ice palace and thrown a few furs on the floor, the temperature can rise to a toasty 20 degrees C. And, of course, you'll have the only igloo in the neighbourhood.
