August’s #Clootie #cryptic #crossword commemorates a writer’s 255th birthday (with 13 works, their home, and their dog) 🐴🚂 🧩 Drink inspiring line by outspoken Caledonian writer
Lepus Xwords 𓃹
@lepusxwords.bsky.social
Crossword setter – Lepus (personal), Wat (Herald)
July’s #Clootie #cryptic #crossword commemorates a filmmaker’s 80th birthday 🧜♀️👍🍦 🧩 Filmmaker picked up reaper’s tab?
June’s #Clootie #cryptic #crossword is tied to a sports event happening this month ⚽️ These supporters rating new member bursting into Flower of Scotland (6,4) 🏟️ Rangers’ home over by trails one bear cleaned out (5) 🥅 The King studies rule broken by Italy (5,3)
Here’s a xword based around @nickmohammed.bsky.social since Show Pony’s Glasgow date is tonight 🐴 Nick told a lie (6) Nate, with help, shifted animal (8) Bird’s down (7) Solve here: mycrossword.co.uk/cryptic/3405
Cryptic crossword No 3,405 · MyCrossword
Solve Cryptic crossword No 3,405 on MyCrossword. 15x15 grid with 31 clues by LepusXwords. Published Tue 5 May 2026. Features annotated solutions and special instructions. Free to solve online.
mycrossword.co.uk
May’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword commemorates the 100th anniversary of a comedian’s birth 🧙♂️ Extra absently trashed comic (7,6)
April’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword is about an actor (a) best known for (b) and (c) 🟦❤️❤️ (a) Actor’s favourite supermarket stocks explorer’s coat and hat (5,7) (b) TV show’s doomed if hot ticket accepts lead in Hollywood (3,5,2,2) (c) TV show’s opening features court – how peculiar! (6,3)
March’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword is connected to a sports event 🏉 🧩 Championship team Aniston’s excited about (3,7)
February’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword commemorates the 20th anniversary of a film 🚂 🧩 Film’s starting point changed (13)
My 20th Clootie #cryptic #crossword is about a 145-year-old festival 🔥🪓 🧩 Shetland spectacle enlivening Leah and Paul around end of January (2,5,2)
Fans of #InsideNo9 might enjoy this Stage/Fright-themed xword, especially if they’re going to the final Edinburgh shows today 🎭👻🩸 @sjpemberton.bsky.social @marksalisbury.bsky.social
October’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword is about Glasgow’s museums 🏛 Sample clues: 🧩 Married a Caledonian? Lucky thing! (6) 🧩 Animal nursed by NHS Lothian (5) 🧩 Winger receives Ferguson’s back pass – a mistake at Ibrox? (3,4) 🧩 Study by Swiss lab presents worry (7)
When a headline sounds too much like a #cryptic #crossword clue. I wonder if anyone can make it work? 🤔
August’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword is about an event marking 75 years 🏰🎖🔫 “Cast trying to buy The Armadillo to air capital event” (5,9,8,6)
May’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword is all about the water of life 🥃 • Ron knew Elijah distilled whisky (7,6) • Excited PGA team spots Royal Troon’s shortest hole (7,5) • Bloomer made by Scottish inventor following body snatcher (8)
March’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword 🎤🎵 Subject: A free trip bagged by tuneful singer (5,6) • Band fronted by [subject] ultimately saw film three times (3,3,3) • Say, does Flower of Scotland start off rugby? (4) • Potter is battling with Tom – one testing pupils! (11)
@alexhorne.bsky.social Hats off to whoever made the #TaskmasterLive word search 🦆✉️ enjoyed finding the extra nods but likely missed a few! Despite the task saying all can be found, there are only 7 contestants missing! @bookoftaskmaster.bsky.social #Taskmaster
January’s Clootie #cryptic #crossword 🎻 Subject: Annual trad festival into TLC with conscience flying (6,11) • One might laugh, gutted Hogmanay and New Year essentially over! (5) • Section of Macbeth I call ‘dealing with morals’ (7) • Brothers usually rowing Roman ships on a regular basis (5)
Aviator skipped break – ah, I suspect a fear of Friday the 13th! (23) 🐈⬛🪜🦚🧂🪞☂️ #cryptic #crossword #crosswordclue #InsideNo9 @sjpemberton.bsky.social @reece-shearsmith.bsky.social @marksalisbury.bsky.social
This month’s Clootie 🧩 American fool gains support with political propaganda (8) Start of round in Gleneagles intimidates nervous beginners (6) The subject: Singer on lane nine terribly cross (5,6) Band’s performing the music without lines (10)
My first published cryptics for The Herald’s Clootie (released on the first Monday of each month), each with a Scottish theme 🏴 These ones: Royal Highland Show, Belladrum, Gold medallists, Bloody Scotland 🐄🎤🥇🗡
… and here’s one where all of the clues nod to @sjpemberton.bsky.social’s many endeavours #InsideNo9 🐇
Hello Bluesky! Just migrated from the Twitterverse 👾 To prove I’m not a bot, here are some #InsideNo9 themed cryptics made when first starting out 🧩 (Fair warning of dodgy wordplay down to early setter syndrome)
