LOCALS are not making the most of the Castle Drogo estate at Drewsteignton which extends to over 600 acres, a spokesperson for the National Trust said this week.
Marketing officer Sue Room said she would like to see a stronger presence of local people experiencing the walks around Castle Drogo and the Teign Valley.
'When people think of the National Trust they think of properties but Castle Drogo is just a speck on an enormous great gorge,' she said.
'If people do not want to see the castle and gardens for which they have to pay they can use the landscape and walk to their heart's content for free — we just want them to use and enjoy it.'
The conservation charity protects more than 600 acres of land along both sides of the Teign Valley stretching from Dogmarsh Bridge in the West to the 16th Century Fingle Bridge in the East and includes some of the most spectacular views in Devon.
The marketing officer said the National Trust had its roots in the late 1800s and the idea behind it at that time was to buy vast acres of land for the whole nation to enjoy — particularly the poor.
'It was a very philanthropic approach,' she said.
'In the mid 1900s the trust went into buying large properties in a big way and lost its identity in terms of its original roots.
'We want to balance the two things — the geography is terribly important to us.'
She added that another plus for families was that Castle Drogo in terms of the property and gardens was a very safe environment.
'This is something incredibly important for parents — we do not have fun fair rides and and scary things but just a pleasant and safe environment for families and children,' she said.
Castle Drogo is currently celebrating its 25th year of being open to the public and attracts around 110,000 visitors each year.
Designed by famous architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for Julius Drewe, the founder of the Home and Colonial Stores, Castle Drogo was the last castle to be built in Britain and was completed in 1931.
The property was taken over by the National Trust in 1974 but the grand-daughter of Julius Drewe still lives on site.
Two thirds of the castle is open to the public and the trust organises numerous special events from nature walks and lecture lunches to 1920s weekends — next year 105 events are planned. For further information phone 01647 433306.