Dire sort of journey (4)
I believe the answer is:
ride
'journey' is the definition.
(I know that ride is a type of journey)
'dire sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates an anagram.
'dire' anagrammed gives 'RIDE'.
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for ride that I've seen before include "Travel on the back of animal" , "Travel, on horseback, say" , "Sit on (a horse/vehicle)" , "To control" , "Eg, roundabout or roller-coaster, path for horses" .)