Len Banister dwells on the past and glimpses the future

Greenwich and the area around the Dome are going to provide important facilities for the Olympics so in this, the fourth in the series of walking the bid we take the opportunity firstly of taking in some of the wonders of Greenwich Park and looking out across modern London. Descending from the park the route takes us between the magnificent buildings which now house the Greenwich Maritime Museum and provides a glimpse of the wonderful backdrop to the 2012 equestrian events.

The walk along the Thames Path to the Dome, now to be called O2, is not the most attractive but it is worth doing now so that you can appreciate the improvements of the future.

Once around O2 and the Beckham Academy you can look across the river to the areas of our previous Olympic walks and appreciate what a huge undertaking these games actually are.

1. Start

Leave Island Gardens Station and walk down Ferry Street to turn left along Saunders Ness Road.

You will see the entrance to the tunnel under the glass covered dome on your right but, before you go here walk across to the riverside to take in the magnificent view of the Royal Naval College on the other side. Go into the tunnel entrance but do not go down the stairs press the button for the lift. Once down under the river walk the quarter of a mile across. Take another lift up to emerge near the Cutty Sark.

2. 0.4 mile/0.6km Go forward with the clipper on your left and walk along Church Street before turning a sharp left into Durnford Street which takes you into Greenwich Market.

Head for Turpin Lane in the far right corner to emerge in King William Walk. Turn right here and cross Nelson Road (toilets on left) to walk up to the gates of Greenwich Park.

3. 0.8 miles/1.2km Initially keep to the main drive but when this starts to climb, veer left toward the observatory and climb steeply to the top of the hill. Visit the Observatory and take in one of the best views of London. Now cross to General Wolf's statue and take the footpath labelled to Roman Remains', following this along the top of the hill to descend gently to the remains of Queen Elizabeth's Oak.

Turn left here to go downhill towards the Maritime Museum. At a crossroads, go right along a narrower path to descend towards gates with a paddling pool on the right..

4. 1.4 miles/2.2km Leave the park by the gates and immediately turn left to go through another gate, entering the grounds of the museum.

Follow the path to the left, hugging the edge of the building to pass cannons and turn right into a colonnade. Now turn left to walk between the pillars under the Queen's House. To your right is the proposed site for the equestrian events of the Olympic Games. At the end of the walkway, before the entrance to the Caird galleries, turn right then left at a junction and right at the main museum entrance to walk to the road with a Sea Harrier on your left.

5. 1.6 miles/2.6km Turn left at the road, cross at the lights and keep forward through the Romney Road Gate into the grounds of the old Naval College to turn right at the signpost to the Painted Hall and Chapel. Continue forward until you are confronted by the relatively low Trafalgar Quarters. Turn left. Just before reaching the Trafalgar Tavern with its dainty statue of Nelson, turn right along Crane Street.

6. 2miles/3km Now you are on the Thames Path. Follow the signs and you will pass the old Trinity Hospital, a power station and a Tate and Lyle refinery. (This section is characterized by various isolated works of art, wonderfully preserved houses and vandalism.) After about a mile, as you approach a couple of gasometers you will be presented with the option of taking the riverside path to the Dome take this.

7. 2.8 miles/4.5km You now pass between piles of aggregates and under conveyor belts over what must be a definition of a brownfield site'. (Later, straight ahead, is one of the few complete views of Canary Wharf and to your left you can see Greenwich College and the route you have taken.) Keep to the Thames Path signs. The route improves and you are soon circling the Dome. The Dome (or O2 as it is apparently to be called) will house the basketball and gymnastic events. Eventually you come to the Millennium Pier with its extraordinary statue by Anthony Gormley.

Over to the right will be facilities for the press and TV and further on will be a portable facility called the Greenwich Arena which will house badminton and rhythmic gymnastics competitions. (Already you can see the newly opened David Beckham Academy that will in some way be used for the games.) Go past a tiny radar scanner (from here you can see, down stream, the Thames Barrier) and just before the multicoloured flats of the Greenwich Millennium Village, turn right.

8. 4.4 miles/7km At the next junction turn right on the rather grand East Parkside along the formal approach to the Dome. Descend steps to a terrace on the left and walk along past the Pilot Inn to then turn right along West Parkside.

Pass ornamental fountains and follow the marked footpath to North Greenwich Underground Station where the walk ends.

Walker's notebook Starting Point: Island Gardens DLR station Finishing Point: North Greenwich (Underground Jubilee Line) Distance: 5 miles/7.7km Time: 3 hours Terrain: hilly in Greenwich Park but otherwise flat on surfaced paths Suitability for Dogs: keep on a lead Near: Greenwich Refreshments: In Greenwich and several pubs along the way Public Toilets: In King William Walk at stage 2 Map and Grid Reference: Explorer 161 383 784 More Information: You can get leaflets on the proposed developments from Greenwich Olympic Unit on 020 8921 6474