An obvious way up Leean is from the SE starting at around G8061 3779 A. The short ground cover makes walking easy. There are extensive views particularly towards the Keelogyboys to the West and Benbo to the East. This a well-researched archaeological site with features such as hut sites, boulder circles and perching boulders. Read up on it here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/Leean/ Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/750/comment/5509/

Leean Mountain is part of a wonderful range of hills to the south of Glencar, perhaps not as attractive as the bigger hills to the north on paper, but on the ground they certainly punch well above their height. Starting point was the carpark at Doon Lough (794363 B) beyond which the hills are dramatically laid out.

A short walk west brings a road which skirts the lough and heads far into the depths of the hills. Lambfest 2010 was well under way and daffodils were adding splashes of colour as i walked this quiet road. A vicious litle gain in height brings wide views south and west over Lough Gill. Crags abound and stone walls become more prominent as the tarmac fades. Just after an old disused house a gate brings SE spur of the hill.

Alot of limestone showing through the short grazed grass as follow an old stone wall uphill. Down to the right large boulders were suspended on legs of limestone ready to recieve their ritual sacrifice. The trig pillar atop is a strong pull as curve around the river valley below. The greeness of the hill only broken by the brilliant whiteness of new born lambs. The walking is easy and pleasant with great views in all directions and a steeper pull brings the top

The views are quite stunning - west over the rest of the Castegal hills to Knocknarea and the backdrop of Sligo Bay and the Ox Mountains, north to the big hills of Truskmore, tievebaun and Slievemore, east to glimpses of Lough Allen backed by Slieve Anierin and the snow spattered Cuilcaigh, south over beautiful Lough Gill.

A steep grassy slope drops down the western flank to a track and sheep pens. This track could be used to return to the quiet approach road or could be a more direct approach in itself. My route continued west, dropping down past the line of crags to the old turf cuttings as seen in the picture, heading for Keelogyboy Far E Top.

This top really does impress - it literally does stand proud from its neighbours and feels and looks much higher than its 417 metres. A cracking short walk on its own over mixed but always easy terrain with the option of extending to varying degrees. On returning to the car the next day Lough Doon was busy with fishermen in boats and the shore and made good company as i stuffed my face. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/750/comment/4604/

The title of this comment says it all about my experience.
I won't labour the practicalities of how to get to it, it's well laid out by others, and straightforward to follow.
Getting back to the question posed, this hill was so ahead of any expectations. I have had many visits to the area, in fact, it's where I cut my metaphorical hillwalking teeth as a student 30+ years ago in Sligo. I hadn't been on this particular one, and as the weather has been glorious the last weeks, and I wanted to get out, I drove up after work on a Friday knowing the evenings were long enough. I brought my camping paraphernalia and boy was I glad I did!
I followed the little green lane up through flocks of ewes with their new lambs, as i sweated in the heat of the first warm spell of 2025. There was lots of bared limestone, green grass, stunted hawthorns and little knolls and vales about me, while further afield I could see Lough Gill, Sligo town, the mast on Truskmore, and assorted hills and mountains many of which I've been on before.
The trig when I reached it had a little poo sat upon it, likey from a bird of probably larger dimensions, perhaps a buzzard, and my imagination saw said bird as it circled this place.
I found a little green lawn, tent sized among the limestone, pitched up, and had my supper watching the sun slide down over Keelogyboy, while behind me, an almost full moon rose over the trig.
The whole scene, the fantastic light, the change from day to night, the glorious views around about put me in a philosophical frame of mind, and I felt like it was a moment which will live in memory for me evermore.
The following morning, although cold and breezy was no less beautiful, and the return walk to my car no less thoughtful, as I felt grateful to Providence for what was one of the most spiritual visits to a hill I've ever had.
I hope those who follow my footsteps are similarly overwhelmed. Linkback: https://mountainviews.ie/summit/750/comment/24415/