Mount Leinster East Top

Often bypassed by those heading straight for the main summit and its distinctive television mast, this eastern shoulder offers a much quieter experience of the Blackstairs. The terrain is a mix of rugged heather and peat, providing expansive views across the Wexford lowlands toward the Irish Sea.

• •While the parent mountain is known in Irish as Stua Laighean, meaning 'Peak of Leinster', this subsidiary top is defined by its compass position and its status as a Hewitt-class summit.
• •The summit is a key waypoint on the Blackstairs Ridge walk, a classic but demanding traverse that links the various 600-metre-plus peaks of the range through thick heather.
• •The view to the south offers a clear look at the long, undulating spine of the range as it stretches toward the distinctive profile of Blackstairs Mountain.
• •Despite being a shoulder of its much larger neighbour, its 656-metre height and sufficient prominence qualify it as a Hewitt, making it a mandatory stop for those bagging Ireland's 2,000-foot peaks.
• •It is the ideal destination for the walker who wants to enjoy the Blackstairs wilderness while maintaining a polite, 1.5-kilometre distance from the television mast on the main peak.