It's not good enough to look at surface winds next to areas of higher terrain, check winds aloft as well. They will give you an indication of the general direction of the air and whether or not to expect leeward turbulence. It takes a bit of experience to work out how the air will be deflected and channeled by the hills and mountains, so it is worth talking to someone who flies in the area to get their views on what to expect.
It is worth remembering that wind aloft data is not always that accurate around mountain areas though. This year I took off in calm surface conditions from my home airport which is located next to a mountain range only to meet an unforecast/unexpected 40kt+ wind jet at 300ft on the climbout. This gets your attention.