Whole greater than parts
This is a puzzle.
Each clue links to both a place and, with one exception, a named individual.
There are 12 places and 11 individuals and something else to name.
Confusingly, as well as the 12 places mentioned above, all the clues are linked to a single, different place. That different place – with a strong, local connection – is familiar to many if not all Spurtle readers.
You'll need to visit that nearby place to solve the puzzle. (It is not Lamb Island, shown on the map below. Ignore the map.)
A massive £20 prize and glory will go to the sender of the first complete set of correct solutions. If no entrant gets all the right answers, the prize will go to whoever scores best.
Answers by email, please, to: spurtle@hotmail.co.uk
UPDATE:—A deadline has now been set. Send us your solutions by Sunday, 15 March 2026. The winner will be announced on 16 March 2026.
ANOTHER UPDATE:—Congratulations to the winner of this puzzle, Sam Murray, who submitted 19 out of a possible 24 correct solutions. She now walks away with a staggering £20 in crisp 5p pieces from the Spurtle biscuit fund. Our thanks go to all who took part and/or sent in abusive messages.
If you tried and failed to make progress with this brain-teaser but would still like to have a go, here is a clue: You need to visit the Scottish National Portrait Gallery at 1 Queen Street.
For those who have already lost patience, answers are available HERE.
CLUES
1) A salmon, hazel, bird and bell for local doctor with a pleasant smell.
2) A tree-bound hound beside the water, still standing tall, perhaps was not as good as he oughta.
3) Chevalier, writer and moral fudge, home to a lawyer before a judge.
4) With oak and boar, his view of azure main some now deplore.
5) Strong fortress, gate and chapel, on buses for Newbattle.
6) A castle, maman, veuve with nerve.
7) The flag and lamb and German–Netherlandish glam.
8) A cross and diseased old man so full of blood.
9) Two lions hold the tower for one who had no real power.
10) A pot of lilies for this lass, who sickened, faded, died, alas.
11) A ship in motion, victor on land and ocean.
12) Three towers and flags: hard times, more flags.
[Top-right: AI-generated image by perchance.org.]
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