Map by Pointer

Puzzle explanation

The lines through the unclued letters in across entries (WOCNA) and the ones in down entries (CHON) formed an approximation of the shorelines of MAVIS GRIND, an isthmus in the Shetland Islands between the ATLANTIC and the NORTH SEA. At 33 metres wide, it is said to be the only place in the UK where a stone may be thrown across land from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer (unclued letter) Explanation
Across
1 A(W)FUL A + FUL(l)
4 OCEAN (A + ONCE) *
8 T(O)HO (au)THO(r)
9 AMMO (c)OMMA(s) <
11 LORATE ((taff)ETA ROL(led)) <
12 GEAR (L + GEAR) * = LARGE *
13 ALEPH A + L + EPH (Ephesians, not Epistle)
15 REAR 2 meanings
16 NA(C)H BEENAH − BEE
17 IBADAH (HAD A BI(t)) <
20 RUNS RUN(g) + S
21 INTIMIDATE ID in INTIMATE
23 COI(N) (O’ + I) after C(ampania)
24 NORIA (A + IRON) <
25 M(A)VIS V in MIS
26 GRIND (A)G(a) + RIND
Down
1 TANTALIC I in (TAN + TALC)
2 FORECAST Spoonerism of CORE FAST
3 LOT(H) (TO + L) <
4 OVERBROWING (OR + OWING) around VERB
5 (C)AGE AGE
6 AMARANTI(N) AMI around (A + RANT)
7 SHERATON TON after (SHE + RA)
8 TOLA (A + LOT) <
10 MEAD LIE around MEAD = LIMEADE
14 PHONE-IN P + HO + NEIN
17 ISTHMUS IS + M(yrrh) in THUS
18 ARD(O)R A(nothe)R D(isaste)R
19 ANOA ((s)A(l)O(o)N (c)A(r)) <
22 TIV TV around I
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