Extract

§ 1. The Malvern hills are situated in the south-western part of Worcestershire: the boundary which divides the counties of Worcester and Hereford, passes along their western side.

§ 2. They consist of an uninterrupted chain of about nine miles in length, extending nearly in a straight line from north to south; their greatest breadth from east to west not exceeding two miles. The several parts of the chain all present rounded summits, and from one extremity to the other they are nearly covered with a luxuriant vegetation.

§ 3. When viewed from a little distance on the eastern side, we see that there is a gradual rise from south to north, and that there are three hills which form the principal features, as they stand considerably above the general outline. The highest of these is in the centre, and is known by the name of the Herefordshire Beacon; but the greater elevation of this hill above the other two is not very apparent on this side, as it falls back to the eastward, and rather stands out from the general direction of the range.* The two other prominent hills are situated nearly close together at the northern extremity; of these, that which is farthest south is called the Worcestershire Beacon, and is the highest of the two; the name of the other is the North-hill.

§ 4. On the eastern side, the hills rise at a considerable angle, from a level plain that stretches to the banks of the