Toughie No 3658 by Silvanus
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Only just a Toughie but the usual excellent Silvanus crossword
Tag: Daily Telegraph
DT 31196
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31196
Hints and Tips by Deansleigh
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BD Rating – Difficulty ** Enjoyment ***/****
Good morning everyone, and welcome to the Wednesday back-pager blog. I started fairly quickly with this one but was held up in the NW corner by the cryptic definitions and the Spoonerism, pushing me into 2* time. There are some excellent clues in today’s puzzle, with plenty of smooth surface readings. I had ticks all over the page, but my favourite clue today, and the one that gave me the biggest laugh, was the superb 26d. Many thanks to today’s setter.
Toughie 3657
Toughie No 3657 by Dada
Hints and tips by Whybird
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BD Rating – Difficulty * – Enjoyment ****
Croeso o Gymru! This week’s travels find me in a very nice cottage on the Bodnant Estate, overlooking the Conwy valley and the village of Dolgarrog. The Present Lady Whybird, Lord Alfie and I are enjoying a few days of downtime following Lady W’s latest sewing retreat, coincidentally situated in the aforementioned village. Anyone would think there was a plan… We’ve had a hefty dose of spectacular early spring weather, but we are now experiencing something more traditionally North Walian. As with the last time I was in this area, several hours over a couple of days in St Mary’s Churchyard, Caerhun, involved plenty of obliging finches (Gold, Green, Chaf) but not Haw. There’s always a next time, and the Roman archaeology is interesting.
Dada, to whom, many thanks, has given us a very enjoyable puzzle today, towards the more straightforward end of the spectrum, I felt, which is especially welcome as I’ve been solving on the iPad rather than my much preferred Dead Tree. Just a couple of pieces of explanations had me scratching my head a little, but nothing too strenuous. I did wonder if Dada had dined on an Atlas given the number of geographical references. My prizes today go to 18a, 19a, 27a with 14d getting an honourable mention
Please let us know how you fared and what you thought of the puzzle.
DT 31195
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31195
Hints and tips by Huntsman
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BD Rating – Difficulty * Enjoyment ***
A Typically Tuesdayish puzzle, as Senf would say, that I assume is an Anthony Plumb production. I was going great guns solving in an anti-clockwise direction & on course to comfortably better yesterday’s solve time until a bit of brain fog near the finish line in the NE. As ever nicely clued throughout & very enjoyable too.
As usual there is a selection of music to enjoy or ignore.
In the hints below the definition element of each clue has been underlined, anagrams are CAPITALISED & the crossword technique “indicator words” are in brackets. The answers are concealed under the Click Here buttons. Please leave a comment below telling us what you thought & how you got on with the puzzle.
DT 31194
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31194
Hints and tips by Smylers
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BD Rating – Difficulty ★★ – Enjoyment ★★★
Hello. I’d claim it’s always a good time to visit Ilkley, but now’s a particularly good time, with it looking like this:
(Click to enlarge.)
DT 31193 (Hints)
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31193 (Hints)
The Saturday Crossword Club
(hosted by crypticsue)
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Toughie 3656
Toughie No 3656 by Elgar
Hints and Tips by crypticsue
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BD Rating – Toughie Difficulty *****300 – Enjoyment ****
DT 31192
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31192
Hints and tips by Mr K
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BD Rating - Difficulty *** - Enjoyment ****
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Friday. I thought this puzzle was just excellent, with many penny drop moments encountered either finding the answers or parsing the wordplay. Continue reading "DT 31192"
DT 31187 (Full Review)
Daily Telegraph Cryptic No 31187
A full review by Rahmat Ali
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This puzzle was published on 14th March 2026
BD Rating – Difficulty *** – Enjoyment ****
Greetings from Kolkata. A tough Saturday puzzle from the setter that I enjoyed solving and thereafter writing a review of the same for your kind perusal and significant feedback. Continue reading “DT 31187 (Full Review)”
Toughie 3655
Toughie No 3655 by Bandit
Hints and tips by ALP
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BD Rating – Toughie difficulty ** – Enjoyment ****/*****
Bandit makes a welcome second appearance with yet more cleverness and truly immaculate surfaces. A dollop of history (huzzah!) and a smidgeon of science (boo!) but all very fairly clued. All yours.