Kettla Ness

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]

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]

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]