Shepton Mallet has eight historic walks, all starting at the Market Place. This shared starting point offers a concrete way to explore the town’s history; its riverside setting, market and cultural activities add their own distinct highlights. When planning your trip, you can consider walks, history and events as separate areas of interest.
Riverside Setting and the Mendips
Shepton Mallet lies on the upper reaches of the River Sheppey, just off the fertile plain at the foot of the Mendips. The river, plain and Mendips offer distinct reference points for understanding the town’s geography. This landscape setting complements the themes within the town: you can explore Shepton Mallet through both its history and its location without conflating these perspectives.
Walks Around Shepton Mallet
The town holds the “Walkers are Welcome Town” accolade. All eight historic walks start at the Market Place and are available through a free-to-download app. This provides both a shared starting point and a digital way to explore the walks on offer. The routes offer a distinct way to discover the town’s history.
The Strawberry Line Path offers a different kind of route: this 27-mile multi-user path runs between Clevedon and Shepton Mallet. There are open sections around Shepton Mallet. The distance refers to the route between its two endpoints; the open sections around the town are distinct from the full route. The overall route and local sections can therefore serve as different points of reference when planning.
Prison and Market History
Shepton Mallet Prison first received inmates in 1625. The site is a traditional Victorian prison with two wings and 178 cells. These details provide two distinct historical reference points: the year the first inmates were received and the prison’s description as Victorian. So this topic is not just about a date, but also the specific site, with its two wings and 178 cells.
The Friday market also brings history together with a specific offering: it dates back to 1318 and offers fresh food, local crafts and seasonal goods. If you would like to include the market in your plans, Friday is the relevant day of the week. Its long history and varied goods offer two distinct reasons to visit.
Art, Events and Gardens
At Art Bank workshops and exhibitions, objects that might otherwise end up in landfill are reused. The cultural programme also includes events in the Art Bank bar, such as live music, open-mic nights, spoken word, comedy, theatre and varied DJ sets. As the programme may change, check the latest announcements before visiting.
Outside Shepton Mallet is Kilver Court and Gardens, a 3.5-acre site in Somerset. The garden is open to visitors daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm; check the current opening hours before you travel. Its location outside the town makes it a separate activity alongside the walks, market history and cultural offerings in Shepton Mallet.
Discover more destinations: East Brent, Ditcheat, Nether Stowey, Porlock, Templecombe, Crewkerne, Martock, Taunton
For the broader travel overview: Somerset.
