Could start taking the path around a small area (5)
I believe the answer is:
patch
'a small area' is the definition.
'patch' can be an answer for 'area' (patch is a kind of area). I'm not certain of the 'a small' bit.
'could start taking the path around' is the wordplay.
'start' says to take the initial letters.
'taking' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'around' indicates an anagram.
The first letter of 'could' is 'c'.
'c'+'path'='cpath'
'cpath' is an anagram of 'PATCH'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for patch that I've seen before include "Material to cover repair" , "Piece of land, of mending material" , "Piece of material sewn over a hole" , "Court plaster" , "Mend by adding fabric" .)