Each fortnight, Len Banister of the West Essex Ramblers provides you with a detailed itinerary for a short walk. Feedback and suggestions for future excursions are always welcome. Email him on talkingwalking@aol.com.

A dry walk with lots of water and the chance to see the old and the new as they are counterbalanced in the panorama of Docklands

DOCKLANDS is changing all the time, and the mighty cranes are still lowering parts on to new tall towers. Whether you are a fan of the development or not you should find this walk fascinating as it takes you winding through the Isle of Dogs, across squares that wouldn't be out of place in Italy or southern France, between buildings that carry overtones of New York and alongside stretches of water that hint of Venice.

Although much has been destroyed to make way for the new temples of capitalism and luxury apartments, as the walk demonstrates, a sufficient amount of the old docklands has survived to demonstrate that the warehouses, cottages and factories of 200 years ago had a quality of workmanship and design not always seen in modern buildings.


StageOne
Whichever way you come out of Westferry DLR station you must first cross Westferry Road and turn right. You will soon pass the entrance to Premier Place and, at the first junction, turn L along Garford Street (halfway down on the R you will pass cottages built in 1807 for the Dockland police).

Go under a bridge and turn R, go R again back under the bridge (on the R here is the handsome Dockmasters House, now an Indian restaurant, and ahead are the warehouses of West India Quay).


StageTwo 0.2 miles/0.3km
Turn L at the T-junction and cross the road at a pedestrian crossing, going slightly R to go down steps to the entrance to West India Quay. (The building is now a shopping centre.)

Once inside go up a level by wooden steps and exit through glass doors onto the quay proper. Turn R to explore a little. The quay is surrounded by restaurants with continental-style areas spilling out, and along on the R is the Museum in Docklands. The museum is free in the late evening, but one £5 ticket will give you admittance for a year.

Further on is the Ledger Building, which is now a pub. Retrace your steps to the light green Floating Bridge. Ahead you will get your first taste of things to come, such as high glass-encased buidings and remnants of dock machinery all reflected in water.

Cross the bridge to go up a series of steps to reach a sculpture of a seated couple by a water feature. You are now in Cabot Square. Continue forward to cross the road. If you go down steps here there are toilets at the bottom on weekdays.


StageThree 0.6 miles/1km
Turn L to walk along the arcade eventually to turn R into Chancellor Passage, past a post office and L along the waterfront.

Ahead is the entrance to Canary Wharf Jubilee Line Station (this in itself is worth a visit if you haven't been before).

When you are nearly level with the station turn L to walk towards the Canary Wharf Tower. Climb one of the flights of steps either side of the shopping mall to reach the road
StageFour 0.8miles/1.3km
Turn R and walk along the edge of Canada Square. Turn L to walk across the front of the Waitrose building then turn R to pass the Barclay Tower on the L and reach a roundabout called the Cartier Circle.


StageFive 1 mile/1.6km
Take the second exit on the L. Immediately after crossing water, cross the road and take steps down to a walkway by the Blackwall Basin.

Follow the walkway round (passing upended cannon and remnants of dockland machinery). After going around a slipway you will emerge on Poplar Dock, which is now a busy marina.

All around building is still going on. High up are massive cranes that dwarf the original dockland cranes, which have been preserved by the developers. Follow the edge of this marina for three of its sides. At the end of the third side, go down a slope to reach Preston's Road.


StageSix 1.6 miles/2.56km
Cross the road and turn R. Soon you will have excellent views of the Millennium Dome and Canary Wharf on your L and R.

Look for Coldharbour and turn L (ahead is the superb 18th century Isle House and next door the less impressive but more famous Nelson House.

Follow Coldharbour right along until it swings back up to the main road. On its corner is the Gun pub, but sadly this was boarded up when I was here last. On the L towards the main road is a row of dockers' cottages.


StageSeven 1.8 miles/2.8km
Turn L crossing the blue bridge (which is occasionally raised) and, just before a roundabout, turn R along Marsh Wall. Soon go up steps past Jack Dash House (Jack Dash was the last of a long line of famous dockland trade unionists) and go R to reach a waterfront.


StageEight 2 miles/3.2km
Turn L to walk alongside West India Docks as far as you can go. Turn L back to Marsh Wall and turn R to walk the short distance to South Quay DLR Station.


Walkers' Notebook
Starting and finishing points: Westferry Station on the Docklands Light Railway Line. The walk finishes at South Quay Station

Distance: 2.4 miles/3.8km

Time: Allow at least two hours and many more if you visit the museum

Terrain: pavements and walkways, some steps

Refreshments: a feature of the walk is the large number of pavement cafes and bars along the way.

Public Toilets: Some are mentioned at the end of stage two. If these are closed, there are toilets in the Canary Wharf shopping mall.

Map: You may find an A-Z map of London useful

More information: This walk is based on one featured in a leaflet produced by Tower Hamlets. It has more information on its website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/data/discover West Essex Ramblers memberships and free programme of walks with leaders: 8524 2737 (Redbridge Group on 01708 456 771 and Lea Valley Friends, who specialise in walks of 3 to 4 miles, on 8529 7328).