Sign up to our free newsletter for the top North Wales stories sent straight to your e-mail Sign up now! Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Confused tourists are travelling to Carmarthen in the mistaken belief they will see Caernarfon Castle.

Carmarthenshire council say it’s a regular occurrence during the summer months for visitors to ask for directions to “the big castle” – which is actually 124 miles away.

One Carmarthen local said: “It’s happened to me a few times. I’ve had to explain they’re actually in Carmarthen and not Caernarfon and, although we do have a castle, there’s not much left of it compared to the one in Caernarfon.

“They do seem disappointed but there’s plenty more for them to see instead.”

Cllr Meryl Gravell, board member for regeneration and tourism in Carmarthen, said the fault lies with tourism companies directing people to the wrong destination.

She said: “We have been aware of this tourist confusion for many years. We have had many tourists, particularly Americans, who have ended up in Carmarthen thinking they were in Caernarfon .

“Our tourist information centre staff have explained they often get perplexed tourists directed by tourist companies to the wrong destination.”

Cllr Gravell added: “Sadly there is not much left of Carmarthen’s Castle for tourists to see.

"But, as the oldest town in Wales, it has a great history and is packed with touristy attractions, so they are never disappointed.”

It seems that similar mistakes have happened in Caernarfon .

Emrys Llewelyn, a tour guide for Caernarfon Walks, said: “It is quite funny. It’s an easy mistake to make when speaking English as the names sound so much alike.

“This mistake doesn’t happen in Welsh as Caerfyrddin and Caernarfon don’t sound similar at all.

“I did meet one man who turned up at Caernarfon Rugby Club looking for Carmarthen Rugby Club – his face droped when I told him he was more than 100 miles away.”

While seeing the funny side, Caernarfon councillor Endaf Cooke said it’s a shame for tourists to discover they’re in the wrong town.

Cllr Cooke said: “It’s a common mistake, and although it is humorous it also can’t be very good for business in Caernarfon.

“I’ve had people turning up with deliveries when they’re meant to be in Carmarthen – it can be a costly mistake.”