Hi...

I am new to The Elder Scrolls games, and I am totally lost... I don't understand the compass, and how to get around the world of Skyrim. My active quest is "Bleak Falls Barrow" and "Retrieve the Dragonstone". If I follow the compass to the location of Bleak Falls Barrow, then I am faced with a mountain and no possible way up or in... I've walk around for about an hour trying to climb up, and around but can't seem to find my way into this location. Even when the map shows my current location as being right next to "Bleak falls barrow".....What I am missing??

You probably can't get there following a straight line. There is a way to Bleak falls barrow from Riverwood. From Riverwood you cross the bridge and take the left fork. The road will fork once again later. To the left you find some tower and the bandits. To the right is the Bleak falls barrow. It is easily recognizable by the arches reminescent of the ribcage (at least to me).

Thanks. Once I got back to Riverwood , I found the it.. and went on to complete the quest.

Yea on the compass your goal may be 'in front' of you but often times you have to work your way around something to get to it. Don't worry. You'll get used to it. The Elder Scrolls games are just huge and even I feel overwhelmed with just the sheer amount of options.