Councils call for clarity on future of Okehampton Castle access

Two local councils have come together to discuss the future of visitor access to Okehampton Castle.

Okehampton Town Council and Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council met last week to consider any action they wish to take regarding public access to the historic castle, which is owned and managed by English Heritage.

The castle, a well-known landmark in the town, currently offers guided tours on selected days, with access typically limited to one weekend each month, according to the English Heritage website.

In May, the two councils held an informal meeting to explore the situation further. 

English Heritage previously told The Moorlander that it is changing how it welcomes visitors to Okehampton Castle this year.

Instead of offering general admission on a daily basis, English Heritage said it is planning a programme of special events, tours, and exhibitions to take place over the coming months and years. 

The organisation said further details will be released in due course.

As a charity responsible for more than 400 historic sites across the UK, English Heritage added that in some cases where the cost of daily openings is not justified by visitor numbers, it is taking a new approach to how it manages those sites.

At last week’s meeting, Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council said it was “happy to assist English Heritage to try and find an ongoing solution for the castle to remain open.”

The council also said that parish councillors would like to hold a joint public meeting with English Heritage and noted that an evening date had been suggested for July 10. 

However, the council added that English Heritage were not able to attend, “so we are looking at a new date in July.”

The Moorlander understands that a new date has not yet been agreed.