From Carretera Austral, Chile
We had expected mountains and glaciers. We hadn’t expected huge open spaces. Almost every day, a view opened up of immense distances ending in unknowable peaks, often below blue skies dotted with fabulous clouds.

The cave walk in Jeinimeni, perhaps the most beautifully varied walk you could cram into 5 miles, is one example. Those Patagonian clouds are so wonderful, a cloudless day is almost a disappointment. Fortunately, they are rare.

From Carretera Austral, Chile
We couldn’t get over the similarities between Scotland and Patagonia. The beautiful wide blue skies, the white capped mountains and green fringe of trees in almost every view. It’s just the scale that’s slightly different.

The most common description we heard, not just from the few other Scots that we strangely met along the way, but also from many locals, was “It’s like Scotland… but on Steroids!”

From Ruta 40, Argentina
There was at least one audible stomach growl as the Patagonian breeze pushed the smoke into our faces. The legendary lamb barbecue of the Argentine steppe carries a great reputation, though it’s certainly a long way to go, even for the most committed carnivore.

But when that first, immeasurably tender piece lands on your tongue, and you hear the wind howling over the plains, you know the journey is more than worth it.

From Carretera Austral, Chile
Guanacos are so pretty and so abundant in Patagonia National Park. We saw many, including some unexpected encounters on our walks out and about in the grasslands. There was one stand out moment though.

As we picnicked by the Rio Baker, one lonely guanaco brazenly sauntered between us and the cold, exhilarating turquoise water that I'd just been swimming in. What a memorable moment!

From Carretera Austral, Chile
Patagonia is raw nature, protected from human depredation by unfriendly geography and inhospitable climates. But early humans lived here and left their marks - hand prints or primitive paintings - in caves.

The marks are moving enough, but it was something else to sit outside the cave full of their efforts and wonder about who must have sat on this same boulder, taking in the same view, and eating a very different lunch 9,000 years ago.

From Carretera Austral, Chile
We became confident enough to stop for hitchhikers and met a lovely couple of young and rather adventurous students who had come down from Santiago de Chile to hitch-hike their merry way around Patagonia. We got on well.

In fact, they were such good company that they actually ended up walking one of the trekking routes with us in the Patagonia National Park.