Country area at least without a row of houses! (3)
I believe the answer is:
lea
'country' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for lea that I've seen before include "Meadowland" , "Grazing land" , "Pasture, London river" , "Open pasture" , "River flowing through London" .)