Milecastle 38 Hotbank Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland. Archaeological Earthwork Survey.

An Archaeological earthwork survey was undertaken in July 2002 of Milecastle 38 at Hotbanks, Northumberland (NY 7726 6812) on Hadrian's Wall, on behalf of English Heritage. This lies within the Scheduled monument of Hadrians Wall and associated features between the field boundary west of Turret 37a and the road to Steel Rigg car park, in Wall miles 37,38 and 39 (SM26060), and as such forms part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site. the milecastle lies on a well-walked line, forming part of the Pennine Way, as well as being an easy circular walk from Housteads, and has been subject to degradation as a reult of visitor pressure. Whilst the formal line of the Hadrian's Wall Path National trail lies around the south side of the milecastle, the ground there is boggy, and it has been accepted that many visitors will continue to walk across the monument. The Countryside Agency therefore agreed to play its part in the maintenance of the walked line, and it has been agreed with English Heritage that a decision should be taken about the construction of a scrificial surface through the milecastle tp prevent further erosion.