Another carefully-sited work by Robert Koenig, 'The Guardians' sit atop a rocky outcrop, just down the road from their 'Private Meeting' brethren. Two figures (one male, one female) carved from wood, they were once upon a time huddled under a small roof akin to one you'd find above a church gate, but their small shelter collapsed some years ago, so now only the couple and their seats remain.

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To find them, from the point where the Silurian Way turns off the forest road to the right, just after 'Private Meeting', take the small footpath which veers off to the left instead of continuing along the Silurian Way. This path winds around the back of the rock which the sculpture sits upon, mercifully saving you the trouble of scrambling up the rockface.

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It's an intimate piece. Robert Koenig has often talked about his preference for working with wood, locally sourced wood in particular, as can be seen in his other works at Grizedale. He said of 'The Guardians' at the time:

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"The Guardians were carved from timber found in the area and were finally placed on top of a cliff nearby, as guardians of the cliff on which they are sited."