Exposed, took a winding path, hiding head (5)
I believe the answer is:
naked
'exposed' is the definition.
(exposed can mean undressed)
'took a winding path hiding head' is the wordplay.
'took a winding path' becomes 'snaked' (snake can mean to move in a winding route).
'hiding head' means to remove the first letter.
'snaked' with its initial letter taken off is 'NAKED'.
(Other definitions for naked that I've seen before include "Without clothes" , "Bare" , "Defenceless" , "Au naturel" , "Knead (anag.)" .)