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Yes, I think cb's 3.6 split 4,5 between left and right edges of grid is much better.

My final key makes a 4 letter word (or 7 letters if 'key' is added) but I'm not convinced.

FWIW, my solution was the same, drxx. And I thought cranberryboat’s answer much preferable to the horizontal alternative. But a pretty flat ending, unless I’ve missed something (not unlikely). I expected to be able to trace a message through the grid, at least, as is customary.

Yes, I spent a little time chasing after something meaningful, quisling - but not for very long, so I'm hoping there's something more to come too (if so, the preamble should have sold it better - there are far too many cryptic 'hints' in the way it's written... even encryption, maybe?}.

29a - Bring in notice attached to passage-way (6)

Did anyone else put "import"? It parses perfectly ....

Definition "bring in" (from an outside source) - Chambers

"notice" = IM (Instant Message) "attached to" (joined to) PORT "a passageway" (for a ball or curling stone) - Chambers

I know the "correct" answer, or at least the one the setter intended, but it was my understanding that in cryptic crosswords the wordplay should only lead to one specific answer - am I wrong?

To compound the issue, due to fact there are clashes it was an age before I realised my "error"
🤬

Any help with 5d? I have a decapitated (dotty?) dance tune but cannot for the life of me make sense of the clue.

Hi Eraserman,

5d - definition refers to a spirit or goblin that is said to haunt marshes - 3 letter type of "grass" (I'd never heard of it) around 2 letter "fine"

Contains a clash.

Thanks Brendan. I'll go to work on that. I did suspect the two letter fine replacement, but only found a bubbly pipe that fitted! BTW was that your hidden pictures themed puzzle in the guardian the other day? If so congratulations on producing a gem.

Thanks, the pipe you mention is very close but the answer starts with a different letter - it's definitely in Chambers.

Brendan the Guardian setter and I
share a name but, alas, I can't claim to have produced any puzzles, gems of otherwise ☹️

Like many others, I am left wondering whether I have really finished this. The tour appears to me to be a waste of time, which makes me convinced that I am missing something major. But I'm not sure that I care enough to find it.