Faux Pas by Tringa

Puzzle explanation

The seven thematic entries were THE RIVER TAMAR in the middle column, three places in Cornwall (BUGLE, LIZARD, MULLION) to the west and three in Devon (AXMINSTER, HONITON, BEER) to the east. After resolving the clashes as described in the preamble, columns 6 and 8 contained JAM CREAM SCONE on the Cornwall side and CREAM JAM SCONE on the Devon side, showing the scone toppings in the “wrong” order for both counties. Switching JAM and CREAM in both cases resolved the non-words in the grid.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
1 ABREAST REAST after AB
5 CATENA C + (AN + ETA) <
10 CORNEA CORNE(r) + A
12 ORMERS FORMER + S(upplier) − F
14 AGED WAGED − W
15 SMEES M in SEES
16 NAM MAN <
17 ARROBA (A BAR OR) *
18 PETRE T(hat’s) in (PER + E)
19 RIMES RIME’S
21 FALSE F + ALSO + E − O
23 GATES STAG < around E
24 ELMY E(ugeno)L M(istakenl)Y
27 PAEAN (s)PA(c)E + AN
28 HOST 3 meanings
29 PIUMS S after (PIÙ + M)
30 MOOLI MOOI around (loca)L
32 SISTS S(tops) I(n) S(olicitors’) T(erminology) S(cottish)
34 SNEER GREENS < − G
36 CALPAC C + ALPAC(a)
39 K’RI IRK <
40 NOMOS (M in SOON) <
41 TIGE (EG + IT) <
42 DOLINA LIN in (DO + A)
43 NODDLE N + ODD + L(ebanes)E
44 DINDLE DWINDLE − W
45 RE-ENTER E(mployment) in RENTER
Down
1 AÇAI (S)A(c)C(h)A(r)I(n)
38 BEER BETTER − TT
35 EAGLE (b)EAGLE
2 BUGLE BUG + L(arg)E
3 ELDERLY L(ad)Y after (EL + DER)
28 HONITON ON in HI(gh) + TON
33 SCENE 2 meanings
4 JUNCO C in JUNO
37 ANIL AIL around N
6 ALSO (usu)AL SO(urce)
7 CEILS ALICE’S * − A
32 SPALD PAL in S(cotlan)D
26 MULLION MULL + I + ON
8 ARNOTTO ARE NOT TO − E
9 AXMINSTER (IN A STORE − O) * around XM
18 PREPACKED (RECKED around PA) after P
31 LEPID LEAP + AID − A − A
11 REATA (wi)RE A TA(rpaulin)
25 LIZARD LIZA + RD
13 SABLES B(ought) in SALES
15 SNEAPS (SNAP + S) around E
23 GNOSIS SONGS * around I
22 GAMS G(overnment) A(re) M(aking) S(tate)
20 AJAR JAR after A
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