THE SOLITUDE, the isolation, the bleakness, those notoriously eerie blankets of mists – none of these seem to put Ann Widdecombe off her retirement hidey-hole on Dartmoor. In the lee of the famous rugged rocks of Haytor, she finds it the perfect place to write her novels.

"I rather like bleakness. It's very good for the writing. I like Haytor which is where I live. It varies tremendously all year around. The seasons have each got their own appeal."

Since retiring from politics she confesses she doesn't miss the throbbing metropolis at all and loves nothing better than to stride out across the moors.

Her rural retreat must make a contrast to flying through the air on Strictly, playing Widdy In Waiting in panto or taking part in Question Time. Not that she would call herself a country girl at heart.

"I like walking," she says in her matter-of-fact tones. "That's it. I don't call myself anything."

Although born in Bath and an MP in Kent for many years, Ann's roots are right here in the far South West. Her mother was born in Plymouth and her father in Saltash. She knew Dartmoor from a young age.

"I like walking and I knew the area quite well because my parents come from down here so we used to come down quite a lot when I was a child to see the family."

The author of novels such as The Clematis Tree and An Act Of Treachery has always loved to write.

"I've scribbled all my life. It's something I've always enjoyed doing."

Her answer to questions about what she hopes her readers get from her novels is consistently straightforward.

"I just hope they enjoy them quite honestly. I'm a hopeless subject for an interview like that because I don't go into long psychological analysis, I just hope they enjoy them."

There's an Evening With Ann Widdecombe at the Plough Arts Centre on Saturday.

"The first half of the evening I'll talk a bit about life and times and things. Then we have an interval in which I sign books and then in the second half it's entirely over to the audience."

She's anticipating questions that might range from the political to revelations about her TV appearances, but will she give the audience a twirl?

"They often seem to expect it. Well I might do just one."

An evening with Ann Widdecombe is on Saturday, February 18. Tickets: £17. Box office: 01805 624624.

It's a charity fundraising event with Ann giving her time for free to help raise funds for The PloughPlus Development Fund.

The evening will launch a programme of fundraising for The Plough, alongside MP for Torridge and West, Geoffrey Cox.

A fundraising auction led by auctioneer Colin Thorne will be held on the night with many lots donated from local businesses.

The Plough is on the search for all-weather actors to perform open-air theatre performances of an adaptation of Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby.

The play, which includes some songs, will be performed from June 14 – 17 at outdoor venues such as Torrington 1646, Castle Hill at Filleigh and Hartland Abbey. Rehearsals start on Monday, February 20, 7.30pm at The Plough.

Those new to acting as well as backstage workers are invited to take part. Details from the box office: 01805 624624.