Dire sort of journey (4)
I believe the answer is:
ride
'journey' is the definition.
(I know that ride is a kind of journey)
'dire sort' is the wordplay.
'sort' indicates anagramming the letters.
'dire' anagrammed gives 'RIDE'.
'of' acts as a 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" .)