Vin's Way
A curated walk inspired by the life and career of Vin Garbutt
The path follows his journey from birthplace to resting place, from industrial roots blossoming into his artistic life and love of Teesside's countryside.
Every point of interest is marked with specially selected songs as part of a bespoke playlist offering walkers a unique view through the music of Vin Garbutt.
The walk is staged in two parts, the first relating to the early phase of Vin’s life, the second, the latter, hopefully demonstrating the natural interconnections of both.
The maps below detail the routes, each with annotated points of interest and accompanying songs. All who wish to do the walk are invited at their leisure (following social distancing guidelines). For those of you who can’t yet access the trails, there are short (below) or extended videos available, so that the experience can still be shared.
Part One
Leaving Slaggy Island
The walk starts at the site of Vin’s birthplace, 18 Coral Street in South Bank (now demolished). It moves steadily upland, passing his schools, leaving South Bank to his later family home and locations of his early musical roots, climbing up Eston Hills, to the Nab.
1. 18 Coral Street (Vin’s birthplace)
Slaggy Island Farewell (4:12)
The Young Tin Whistle Pest - 1975
& The Songbook Album - 2003
2. St Peter Church
November Wedding (3:37)
The By-Pass Syndrome - 1991
3. Bennett’s Corner South Bank
England My England (4:14)
Bandalised - 1994
& The Songbook Album - 2003
4. Golden Boy Green
Wilfy Mannion's Jig (2:42)
Word of Mouth - 1999
5. St. Peter’s Senior School
The College (4:29)
Synthetic Hues - 2014
Michelle Flynn’s Hornpipe (4:19)
Bandalised - 1994
6. Normanby Cemetery
When The Lark Salutes The Sky
[unreleased]
7. The Normanby
We May Or Might Never All Meet Here Again (3:17)
King Gooden - 1976
8. Normanby Top
They Don’t Write 'Em Like That Any More (4:00)
Tossin' a Wobbler - 1978
9. Cargo Fleet to Eston Railway Lines
Man Of The Earth (4:40)
Tossin' a Wobbler - 1978
& Plugged! - 1995
10. Ambrose Road (Vin's Parents’ House)
The Rose of Tralee (5:50)
Bandalised - 1994
Bold Robert Emmet
[unreleased]
11. Eston Square
The Ballad Of Cissy Leigh (3:45)
King Gooden 1976
& The Songbook Album - 2003
12. Eston & California Club (album cover)
Hornpipes - The Belfast & The Japanese (4:15)
Eston California - 1977
13. Former Cleveland Bay Pub & Eston Folk Club
If (1:51)
Little Innocents - 1983
& Synthetic Hues - 2014
It Couldn’t Be Done (2:21)
Persona... Grata - 2005
14. Start of Eston Hills
When the Tide Turns (5:36)
When The Tide Turns Again - 1989
15. Eston Ironstone Mines
If I Had A Son (6:02)
The By-Pass Syndrome - 1991
16. Climbing up the hill
Photographic Memory (4:26)
Tossin’ a Wobbler - 1978
Reprise The Wilderness Road (1:24)
Bandalised - 1994
Howard Green (5:33)
The Young Tin Whistle Pest - 1975
& Plugged! - 1995
Away from the Pits (4:43)
Plugged! - 1995
17. Eston Nab
The Valley Of Tees (3:57)
The Valley Of Tees - 1972
& The Songbook Album - 2003
Part Two
When The Tide Turns
Part two begins in Saltburn. The route passes the East Cleveland pubs that hosted sessions, joins the Cleveland Way along the coast that he loved, walked and lived with his family - “the grass is greener at home”. End your journey at Vin’s local, The Station in Loftus.
1. Saltburn Theatre
The Royal Blackbird (3:00)
Little Innocents - 1983
3. The Ship Inn, Old Saltburn
John Doonan’s Hornpipe / Tinkers Alley Reel (4:14)
Persona… Grata - 2005
4. Joining the Cleveland Way National Trail
Danny Danielle (2:53)
The Valley Of Tees - 1972
& The Songbook Album - 2003
Waits And Weeps (3:29)
Word Of Mouth - 1999
5. The Pillar & Mining Train Line
Forty Thieves (3:20)
Word Of Mouth - 1999
6. Old Huntcliffe Gable Fan House
If I Had A Son (6:01)
The By-Pass Syndrome - 1991
Away From The Pits (4:41)
Plugged! - 1995
7. Skinningrove
Fell Off The Back Of A Boat (7:15)
Plugged! - 1995
Time And Tide (4:43)
Word Of Mouth - 1999
8. Hummersea (Vin’s Home)
When The Tide Turns (5:36)
When The Tide Turns Again - 1989
& The Songbook Album - 2003
Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms (11:02)
Plugged! - 1995
9. Clarks Hardware Store & Loftus Market Place
The Loftus Emigrant (6:20)
Persona... Grata - 2005
The Potash Song (2:15)
The By-Pass Syndrome - 1991
10. The Station Pub, Loftus
Parkin Raine (5:09)
King Gooden - 1976
Your Welcome Was So Warm (5:12)
Synthetic Hues - 2014
Other songs for the walk
The Wilderness Road (3:11)
Bandalised - 1994
Howard Green (5:33)
The Young Tin Whistle Pest - 1975 & Plugged! - 1995
Wings (4:46)
Plugged! - 1995
When Oppressed Becomes Oppressor (5:34)
Plugged! - 1995