Wearhead stands 1,104 feet (336m) above sea level and has some of the highest peaks in County Durham, namely Killhope Law at 2,208 feet (673m) and Burnhope Seat at 2,452 feet (747 m). Burnhope Reservoir is approximately from Wearhead. In the construction six farms were submerged when water rose to fill the man-made reservoir in 1937.