[1] It is bordered by the parishes of Stanhope to the north, Newbiggin to the east, Holwick to the south east and Lunedale to the south, in County Durham,[2] and by the Eden District of Cumbria to the west, the western boundary being the River Tees and Cow Green Reservoir.

The main settlements in the parish are Forest-in-Teesdale, Ettersgill, Harwood and Langdon Beck.

[3] The 1870-72 Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales describes Forest and Frith as a township in Middleton-in-Teesdale of 17,270 acres (6,990 ha; 26.98 sq mi) with a population of 862 in 130 houses.

[6] There are 10 listed buildings in the parish: a barn, 3 bridges, 5 milestones and a water wheel pit.

[8] The church of St James the Less, Forest and Frith was built in 1845 and is off the B6277 road south of Langdon Beck.