Azed

[mra1]

stuck on last three for ages: 4 down Early period? I'll turn up in river NO?G?NE: 20 across Speaker in dialect dialectologist eventually grasps STU?ER: 26 across Venue for pilgrims mostly returning to rotate in a way RI?AN

[JJ109]

Neogene
Steven
Rabat (Tamar backwards)

[JJ109]

oops Ramat

[JJ109]

Thanks to FF and Goodgoalie for Steven
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Quizzes-and-Puzzles/Crosswords/Question1601264.html

[mra1]

oh dear back to the drawing board!

[JJ109]

4d = ego reversed in River Nene

[mra1]

Many thanks everyone but it's back to the drawing board for the ones I had wrong!

[ProfessorMaisie]

I think jj109 is right about RABAT (definition in Chambers - 'to rotate...')
The Tabard is on the Canterbury Pilgrimage route, but I think there might be a better explanation - that wordplay is a bit loose for Azed.

[JJ109]

Thanks Prof maisie - I think you are right - I researched Rabat but did not find what you have found.
I had Ramat (venue) = Tamar reversed. Tamar = River of Plymouth whose football team are the Pilgrims. A way = the river (Tamar).
But rotating and returning only used once, and couldn't understand "mostly"

[ProfessorMaisie]

yes jj109, there's a lot going for that explanation too.