Chiltern Hills

Chiltern Hills, the southern part of the low chalk range which runs north-east, about 70 miles, from the north bend of the Thames, in Oxfordshire, through Bucks and the borders of Herts and Beds. In Oxford, Herts, and Beds the Chiltern Hills are 15 to 20 miles broad, and the highest point is near Wendover (950 feet). In his sketch of John Hampden's home, Mr Green paints finely 'the quiet undulations of the chalk country, billowy heavings and sinkings as of some primeval sea suddenly hushed into motionlessness, soft slopes of gray grass or brown-red corn falling gently to dry bottoms, woodland flung here and there in masses over the hills. A country of fine and lucid air, of far shadowy distances, of hollows tenderly veiled by mist, graceful everywhere with a flowing unaccentuated grace, as though Hampden's own temper had grown out of it.'