Flier reaches starting point by way of hill (7)
I believe the answer is:
aviator
'flier' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'starting point by way of hill' is the wordplay.
'starting point' becomes 'A' (as in the phrase 'get from A to B').
'by way of' becomes 'via' (via means by way of or by means of).
'hill' becomes 'tor' (tor is a kind of hill).
'a'+'via'+'tor'='AVIATOR'
'reaches' is the link.
(Other definitions for aviator that I've seen before include "Pilot; style of sunglasses" , "Aircraft pilot" , "He travels up" , "Pilot of plane" , "One flying aircraft" .)