Up on the gently rolling plateau, wooden stakes painted bright orange stretch into the distance. They're essential as navigation aids during the frequent episodes of lousy visibility. They also help keep walkers on the harder surfaces and away from fragile mosses and cushion plants. This was early autumn, one of the island's most pleasant seasons. In July the mercury dips to -3C and from the southwest you can expect gale force winds of up to 60 knots, more than enough to blow you off your feet and into a bog.
Vicious hailstorms are fairly common in winter, too.
Amazingly, only five people have died in recent years, one because he tried to ski over a frozen lake that wasn't frozen and another broke a femur which became infected. There is a doctor on the island who can perform emergency surgery for appendicitis and the like. His assistants are park rangers and communications officers who do a hospital course so they can actually be of some use in an emergency. Typically in summer, when the tourist boats visit, the island is cloudy with mist and periods of light rain. On the occasional clear day, plan on temperatures of around 8-10C and a gentle 10 knot breeze.