COUNTRYSIDE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Off course... one with lost dog or cat? (6)

5 ‘Harlequin’ is an invasive species of this little spotted beetle (8)

9 Valley in Lake District NP (Great or Little) – and legal, anyway! (8)

10 Knew Lynmouth contains a Cornish fishing port! (6)

11 See 17 down

12 Sort of situation liked by e.g. snowdrops – dubious (5)

13 See 7 down

14 Peninsula in North Devon AONB... male deer country (8)

16 Disorderly struggle... to endlessly steal orchard fruit (5)

18 Those who avoid any animal produce (6)

19 Surface crater caused by e.g. erosion of limestone cave (8)

20 Droppings... from Chillingham’s cattle? (4)

22 Previous... deputy at e.g. Fountains Abbey once? (5)

23 Sudden burst of wind – guts upset! (4)

24 Grey bird with barred white underparts, named for its call (6)

26_____ House, Warwickshire NT Tudor house with topiaried yews representing biblical characters (8)

28 Type of spaniel used as gun dog (8)

29 Term for a gathering of crows ... put to death! (6)

DOWN

2 Flight of stepped canal locks e.g. at Foxton, Leicestershire (9)

3 Facing north, it’s where east is – correct? (5)

4 In short, it offers cheap lodgings for walkers – in Parsley Hay? (3)

5 Weald, er, possibly is sheltered from the wind (7)

6/19 Grey-brown butterfly – ‘drab ship’s captain’? (5,7)

7/13 across A Lake District pyramidal ridge at head of Great Langdale (7)

8 Leamington Spa is entitled to be called this (5)

12 E.g. whooper and mute (5)

13 Estuary of Tay, Forth etc. (5)

15 Area of land – held by contractor (5)

16 Echo-location device in bats on a rafter! (5)

17/11 across Constitution of e.g. Peak District’s The Roaches .. long-term silt I mixed (9,4)

19 See 6 down

21 A group of e.g. trees (5)

22 Fork’s tine (5)

23 Mumbles at the start of this peninsula (5)

25 Colourful, ornamental carp – sounds bashful (3)

27 Welsh term for bowl-shaped valley – initially crossing Marches Way (3)