A long way to go for a hat (6)
I believe the answer is:
panama
'a hat' is the definition.
(panama is a kind of hat)
'a long way to go' is the wordplay.
'a long way' becomes 'ama' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'go' becomes 'pan' (panning is a kind of going).
'ama' put after 'pan' is 'PANAMA'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for panama that I've seen before include "Wide-brimmed hat" , "Headgear for a canal" , "A great canal or a straw hat" , "Land - hat - cigar" , "Great canal connecting Atlantic and Pacific" .)