We love dirty footballers. We're not talking about two-footed tackles, or sordid hotel room affairs. Oh no, this is much more fun. The town of Hyrnsalmi in Finland brings a whole new meaning to playing dirty, and even better, we can all get involved. Now we just need a team... fancy it?
PLAY: SWAMP SOCCER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, 16-18 JULY
Brace yourself, because football doesn't get better than this. The Swamp Soccer World Championship sees teams travel from all over the world to compete in the boggy sport, once used as a brutal training regime for soldiers. If you're keen to, er, get stuck in, you might be pleased to know that players can be substituted as often as they like, there are two halves of 12 minutes each and there's no offside rule (good, we don't understand it anyway). Finnair flights from £191. visitfinland.com
STAY: PYKÄLÄ LOG CABINS
Embrace the Finnish countryside with a stay in one of these log cabins. They're one of the best self-catering options in the area, and each one comes with a rocking chair! Consider us sold. There's shed loads to do nearby – canoeing, bear spotting and fishing. For something more chilled, there's an on-site sauna, with a pond outside where you're encouraged to take a dip. pykala.net
EAT: AROLA FARM
For traditional Finnish food pay a visit to Arola Farm. It's famous in the region for traditional country food made with ingredients from the garden and forests. Dishes are hearty, and involve home made bread, berry juice, fish, stews and pasties. It's a bear-spotting hotspot, so book onto the farm's Wild Brown Bear safari for guaranteed furry bear and cub action. wildtaiga.fi
