One for the orologists today, as the eight clues that lack definition (denoted with an asterisk below) are all
mountains. I had to take a guess at 24D to finish the grid – plumping for LEMON as the most likely word that fits, despite being unable to reconcile that, even tangentially, with the clue itself.
Across
1* A,RARA,T – the T coming, somewhat generously, from “finished product”.
10* MON,TB,LANC (clan)* – I’m not aware of any tuberculosis outbreaks in the Highlands in recent years, so perhaps the “TB” in the surface refers (in the style of Alastair Campbell’s diary) to Tony Blair?!
11* LO(G)AN – The one mountain I’d not heard of previously; it’s in the Yukon.
12 T,HUG – A neat attempt to play off of David Cameron’s “Hug a Hoodie” slogan.
13* MATTER,HORN
15* EVE,REST
19 AM,R(IT)A – a new word for me (akin to nectar/ambrosia), but not too tough to figure out.
25* ETNA – hidden in “Vietnam”. This provided an immediate conduit into the theme for me.
28* ANNA,PURNA (ran up)*
29* BEN,NEV,I,S – always good to see – at least in our cryptic world – that the “skinhead” continues to match the longevity of his (typically more Ximenean) contemporary, the Mod.
Down
2 AD NAUSEAM (use a man)* – I liked the quizzical &lit-ness of this one.
5 RE,CITES (“sights”)
7 A,GG,RO
9 BA,SALT – the “sailor” in the clue denotes AB (to be reversed), not salt.
18 CLEAVAGE (gave Alec)* – Yes, I did smirk like a schoolboy at the definition “a degree of separation”, even though it is admirably innocent and accurate.
21 O,CE,ANS(-wer)
24 L?M?N – This one had me beaten all ends up, so I played the percentages and wrote in LEMON. The full clue is “It could be said to be the answer!”. The exclamation mark, no doubt, is punningly vital…
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