Kettla Ness, Kettlaness or just Kettla is a tied island and headland in Shetland.[4] It is connected by the tombolo Minn beach (Banna Minn), to the south end of West Burra, part of the Scalloway Islands.[5][6] The headland itself is conspicuous and circa 160 feet high.[7][8] The island is accessible to walkers via Minn beach and is now uninhabitated.[7] It is principally used for Sheep farming and pasture.[6]
History
Kettla Ness Triangulation Pillar
The former settlements of Minn,[9] Gossigarth[10] and Point of Guide[11] lie on the north-west part of the island. The ruined village was principally abandoned following the Highland Clearances in the 19th century although some occupation continued into the early 20th century.[7] There are several other instances of prehistoric activity on the island, primarily at Minn, including several 3rd-1st millennium BC house, cairns, burnt mounds, cists, crop marks and other structures.[7][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Several of these are located in the Bight of the Sandy Geos, an area on the eastern side of Kettla Ness.[7][19][20] Iron-age pottery fragments have also been found around Sandy Geos.[21][22]
On the south side of Kettla Ness is a stream flowing from the Outra Loch. Along the stream there are numerous examples of ruined historic horizontal watermills that extend down to Groot Ness on the south coast.[23][24][25][26][27]
In 1959, a triangulation pillar was erected on the island.
To the west of the island is the wreck of the boat 'Saint Kentigern' which ran aground in November 1979.[28]
Geology and Fauna
Inlet at Kettla Ness. Much of the rocky coast is formed from micaceous psammites of the Colla Firth Group - a suite of rocks which have been equated with the Dalradian succession of the Scottish Highlands
There are four small lochs on the island: Virda Vatn, Loch of Annyeruss, Outra Loch and Croo Loch.
Flora on Kettla Ness includes Armeria maritima which is extensive on the south-west coast opposite the Rod Skerries.[7]
Fugla Stack
To the west of Kettla Ness is Fugla Stack, a geological stack landform that consists of vertical columns of rock. There is a wreck, the MV Castor, dating to 1910, beside the stack.[29]
