Remote, sweet area to the north (5)
I believe the answer is:
aloof
'remote' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'sweet area to the north' is the wordplay.
'sweet' becomes 'fool' (type of dessert or sweet).
'area' becomes 'a' (maths abbreviation).
'to the north' says the letters should be written backwards (in a down clue, letters go up or 'north').
'fool'+'a'='foola'
'foola' back-to-front is 'ALOOF'.
(Other definitions for aloof that I've seen before include "Detached, distant" , "Withdrawn, distant" , "Snooty" , "Standoffish like a fool" , "Unfriendly or distant like a fool" .)