COUNTRYSIDE CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Steady horse-keeping establishment? (6)

4 A favourite residence of Queen Victoria: ____ House, IOW (7)

8 The most widespread British butterfly of its colour-type

(6, 4)

10 Some British species of which are: Garden Tiger __ and Elephant hawk__ (4)

11 The Old Man of Hoy is located in this Scottish island group (6)

12/21 Built in 1875 to provide a vertical link between the River Weaver and the Trent and Mersey Canal, it is now a big tourist attraction (8, 4, 4) 13 Olive-green freshwater fish (5)

15 Town near Manchester that takes the cake? (6)

18 Incentive in the vegetable garden? (6)

19 Hooked claw of bird of prey (5)

21 See 12 across

23 Put down roots in this Yorkshire Dales town? (6) 24 Language of the IOM (4) 25 Vessel used on canals (10) 26 Devon resort known for its black swans – wild ash cultivated (7)

27 September classic horse race at Doncaster (2, 5)

DOWN

1 Animal tracks – they’re released by fungi, you might hear (6)

2 Devon town giving its name to a famous type of carpet (9)

3 Island, managed by Landmark Trust, off North Devon coast (5)

5 Plant of the Veronica genus; also name of a Peak District cavern (9)

6 Edible mollusc associated with Guernsey (5)

7 A vital element for supporting plant life – and changing ringtone! (8)

9 A small, slim-bodied, freshwater fish with barbels (5) 14 Essential substances for growth – nuts mixed with nitre (9)

16 Popular 18th/19th-century Suffolk landscapist’s copper? (9) 17 An unbroken scenic view, as seen on BBC TV (8) 19 Common potato – treat roughly (5)

20 Ancient Cumberland parish – all due for change (6) 22 A breed of sheep – in latex, elastic! (5)

23 Animal related to weasel, making toast (5)