That's my fotothing nick! 
I don't know if they are closed these days or not, I expect so.
Bill, our guide (who served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was based at Stirling) told me that in the days when it was a barracks they closed the gates at midnight. Soldiers returning from leave had 10 minutes to get up to the castle from the station if they arrived on the last train which got in at 23.50. Soldiers who arrived after the gates closed could be in danger of a charge of AWOL.
That was a feat in itself but if the train was late even more of one! There was a system for letting ropes down at a certain point for soldiers to climb up and sneak in, but it was certainly unofficial! 
[B][COLOR="Red"][SIZE="1"]Reverend Earl Trefor the Sublunary of Kesslington under Ox, Venerable Lord Trefor the Unhyphenated of Much Bottom, Sir Trefor the Corpulent of Leighton in the Bucket, Viscount Mcclef the Portable of Kirkby Overblow.
Cymru, Yr Alban, Iwerddon, Cernyw, Ynys Manau a Lydaw am byth! Yng Nghiltiau Ynghyd!
(Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Brittany forever - united in the Kilts!)[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B]
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