My favourite restaurant in North Norfolk is The Three Horseshoes in Warham (www.warhamhorseshoes.co.uk). I love this traditional Norfolk pub. The staff are always very friendly and welcoming, and the food is excellent. One of my favourite treats, especially on a cold winter’s day, is enjoying a delicious Sunday roast, sitting in front of the open fire with a glass of wine.

If I had to pick one Norfolk ingredient it would have to be local samphire, freshly picked from the salt marshes. I have been enjoying it all my life and used to pick it myself at Burnham Overy Staithe whilst out in my sailing boat. I like it gently steamed and served piping hot, tossed in butter.

I adore rummaging through all the treasures at Wells Antique Centre at Maryland in Wells-next-the-Sea (find them on Facebook). They have a huge and eclectic range of antiques and collectables, all reasonably priced – you never know what you are going to find. I also love This & That on Staithe Street in Wells (01328 711480). I can always get what I am looking for from picture frames to kitchenware.

My favourite gallery in North Norfolk is Fairfax Gallery in Burnham Market (www.fairfaxgallery.com), which has been established for 27 years. The gallery is owned by my nephew who specialises in contemporary British and international paintings and sculpture.

For an afternoon of pottering around the shops, I enjoy visiting Holt with its varied and extensive collection of small independent shops selling antiques, clothes, leather goods and jewellery, to name just a few.

I take a walk around my village of Burnham Thorpe every day – weather permitting. I always return home feeling very relaxed.

My favourite view in Norfolk is from the Obelisk in Holkham park (www.holkham.co.uk) looking north, down towards the hall and beyond to the lake and marshes. On a clear day you can be rewarded with a glimpse of the sea. I always recommend that first-time visitors should go to Holkham – the park, the magnificent walled garden and then down through the village to the beach.

My favourite beach in North Norfolk is Holkham beach. I have very happy memories of playing there with Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as children. We used to build sandcastles and dig large holes in the sand hoping that unsuspecting people would fall into them but no one ever did!

If I could describe North Norfolk in three words… Uplifting, joyful, therapeutic.

Whatever Next? Lessons from an Unexpected Life by Anne Glenconner is out now in hardback, eBook and audiobook (Hodder & Stoughton)