i'm in Volkihar ruins looking to explore Castle Volkihar's ruined tower, Serena says we're getting close. I use the clairvoyance spell which tells me to go up this flight of stairs then half way up the stairs clairvoyance tells me there is no direct path and then at the top of the stairs it tells to go through the wall. Can anyone tell me where to go from this location? I've been walking around the ruins for actual hours trying to locate this tower.

I'm trying to gat a visual of where you are.
Have you located the lever and lowered the bridges yet?

There is a place with a wall sconce that needs turning..... And there are a few other non-obvious things you need to do. I hope its the sconce, as that is the one I remember most clearly.

if you come back down the stairs and turn right you walk out to a small balcony with a chest on the right hand side.

Is the wall you have to walk through have a pile of wood at the bottom of it? If so inspect that area closer.

turn the candle holder on the wall next to the pile of wood

I finally pulled the chain behind the gargoyle statue opening the gate I needed to find the right path