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Due east of Shepton Mallet are two villages of note. First is Doulting, with its fine church and 17th century manor house. The 15th century tithe barn here once belonged to the Abbots of Glastonbury.

Further to the east lies Cranmore, or to be more precise West Cranmore, which is the home of the East Somerset Railway. Originally opened in 1858, this steam­hauled railway was re-opened in 1975 thanks in great measure to the efforts of the world-famous artist David Shepherd. Berkeley Owl Sanctuary at Stoke St. Michael is close to the railway. Contact number 01749840064 for details.

Three miles north of Shepton Mallet is Oakhill, once famed for its large brewery. Today, that particular brewery is closed, but there is still one in the village, once again serving Mendip pubs with its refreshing beers. Nearby runs the Roman Fosse Way, built in AD49 as a military road. At Beacon Hill it would have crossed another important Roman road - the lead road from Mendip to the south coast.

To the west, towards Wells, is Croscombe, which has many interesting buildings, including its church which, somewhat unusually for Somerset, has a spire rather than a tower and dates from the 13th century (rebuilt in the 15th century). Behind the church, the medieval manor house has been restored by the Landmark Trust.

Pilton, an extensive village just off the main Glastonbury road, has many commendable features. The manor was a residence of the Abbots of Glastonbury. Also belonging to the Abbey was the tithe barn, which still stands. The Church has, unusually, a clerestory but no aisles and its oldest feature is the Norman south doorway with its zigzag carving.