Kettla Ness seen from the air, including Minn beach

Kettla Ness is a tied island and headland in Shetland.^[1] It is connected by the tombolo Minn beach (Banna Minn), to the south end of West Burra, part of the Scalloway Islands.^[2][3] The headland itself is conspicuous and circa 160 feet high.^[4][5] The island is accessible to walkers via Minn beach and is now uninhabitated.^[4] It is principally used for Sheep farming and pasture.^[3]

History

Kettla Ness Triangulation Pillar

The former settlements of Minn,^[6] Gossigarth^[7] and Point of Guide^[8] 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.^[4] 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.^{[4][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]} Several of these are located in the Bight of the Sandy Geos, an area on the eastern side of Kettla Ness.^[4][16][17] Iron-age pottery fragments have also been found around Sandy Geos.^[18][19]

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.^{[20][21][22][23][24]}

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.^[25]

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.^[4]

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.^[26]

References