Mend trail around cape
I believe the answer is:
patch
'mend' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'trail around cape' is the wordplay.
'trail' becomes 'path' (I've seen this before).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'cape' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used on maps).
'path' going around 'c' is 'PATCH'.
(Other definitions for patch that I've seen before include "Piece of cloth put on another" , "Mend by adding fabric" , "Mend with piece of material" , "Court plaster" , "Piece of land, of mending material" .)