Take Flight Awards - Liv Myers
What did you do for your Take Flight Awards? What was the inspiration behind it?
A couple of years ago I was handed down a book from my partner’s grandfather: A Coast to Coast Walk by Alfred Wainwright. It’s a beautiful, hand-illustrated guide that traces a roughly 200-mile route across England, from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, through fells, peaks, and moors. I’d always wanted to do a thru-hike, and the Take Flight Award felt like the perfect catalyst to finally make that happen.
The Coast to Coast trail winds through some of England’s most breathtaking landscapes: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and the North York Moors. I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced this journey, which offered a rare glimpse into the heart of Northern England.
Wainwright’s illustrations inspired me to create my own; I kept a daily sketchbook throughout the walk, capturing moments, landscapes, and the quiet character of the trail.
What were some of the highlights?
We were unbelievably lucky with the weather, it only rained for about three hours over the course of two weeks. Given that the Lake District sees rain around 300 days a year, and we were hiking in April, this felt like a small miracle.
Some moments that have stayed with me:
Reaching the summit of a Lake District peak on Easter Sunday at golden hour, and cracking open an Easter egg I had carried with me the whole way up.
Singing “Happy Birthday” to two fellow Coast-to-Coast strangers who discovered they shared the same birthday atop Helvellyn.
The packed lunches, lovingly prepared by our B&B hosts each morning, whether from farms, tea rooms, or village pubs. One day we found slices of homemade fruitcake tucked into our bags by a landlady, which felt like magic.
And of course, the joy of a well-earned local ale at the end of each day’s walk.
What insights did you take away from the experience?
Change happens slowly, and then all at once. Though I’d never done anything like this before, after about a week on the trail my backpack felt lighter, and my body stronger. It reminded me of how remarkably adaptable we are when we commit ourselves to something unfamiliar.
More than anything, it deepened my appreciation for the beauty of Britain—so much of which is quietly tucked away, only accessible on foot. From hidden valleys and windswept peaks to lonely bothies clinging to hillsides, I was honored to experience those in-between places that most people never see.
