| AMHARA | Second-largest ethnic group of Ethiopia after the Oromo, mostly dwelling in the central highlands (6) |
| OROMO | Cushitic African people who are the largest ethnic group of Ethiopia (5) |
| LOCHTAY | A freshwater lake in the Central Highlands of Scotland (4,3) |
| MARQA | Oromo barley porridge |
| ETHIOPIA | Country whose main languages are Amharic and Oromo |
| XHOSA | Second-largest ethnic group in South Africa after the Zulus, mostly living in Eastern Cape province (5) |
| TUTSI | Member of the second-largest ethnic group in Rwanda and Burundi after the Hutu (5) |
| SERBS | Second-largest ethnic group in Montenegro, after Montenegrins |
| CHINA | The Han are the largest ethnic group of which country? (5) |
| HAN | Largest ethnic group of China |
| ZULUS | Largest ethnic group of South Africa |
| NESSIE | Nickname of a legendary beast said to inhabit the deep waters of a lake in the Scottish Highlands (6) |
| KURD | Member of one of the largest ethnic groups in the Middle East, which has never obtained a permanent nation state (4) |
| BEMBA | Member of the largest ethnic group in Zambia, Africa (5) |
| EILEAN | Donan; 13th-century castle near Kyle of Lochalsh in the Highlands (6) |
| STRATH | Gaelic word for a broad river valley, hence a common element in toponyms of the Scottish Highlands (6) |
| LAURA | Central Highlands' ambience and spirit returning around source of inspiration running in Tokyo (5,4) |
| MUIR | Central Highlands' ambience and spirit returning around source of inspiration running in Tokyo (5,4) |
| PLUTO | Body in the far distance set down around central Highlands mid-October (5) |
| OVERRASHLY | Wild rover, a timid protector of Central Highlands, acts incautiously (4-6) |
