looking for a set of tough sidewalled 29” tyres.
seen some minion which look suitable, bit pricey tho.
any other available?

Butcher and Purgatory grids. Will work well on the new bike. We run the 26″ Controls on our Enduros in the Peak all year round and also on the Alps trips. Great all rounders.

Continental Protection?

Getting on well with my Chunky Monkey/Smorgasbord combo at the minute after years on Specialized tyres (Purgs/Butchers/Eskars)

WTB Advatnage or Trail Boss in “tough” or Team Issue should have a decent sidewall.

Getting on well with my Chunky Monkey/Smorgasbord combo at the minute

Yep, pretty pleased with CM & Smorg tyres. Go up easy tubeless, sidewalls decent thickness (not had any incidents of slashed/cut tyres) and CM did well as a rear tyre in the Alps. Bargain price as well

Been running Maxxis Beavers with the EXO sidewall for over a year now and they have been really good.

Continental Protection?

I’ve used these for remote bikepacking trips. They have over a thousand miles laden on them and are barely worn.

I’ve also used Schwalbe Marathon XRs on my Fargo, I think the world will end before I ever wear them out. Tough as nails, but really heavy.

Scwalbe gravity casing DH tyres are about as tough as 29er rubber comes.

Have a look a acycles for cheap Maxxis.
Minion DHR2 for £25ish posted. Great on the back and, according to reviews, very good on front too.
http://www.acycles.co.uk/maxxis-minion-dhr-ii-exo-tubeless-ready-rear-folding-tyre-10081.html

Continental Trail King Protection. Probably the best tyre I’ve ever used though fairly pricey.

Schwalbe super gravity magic mary’s have a sidewall which reminds me of the HR dual ply DH tyres I used years ago. Very stiff and thick, quite unlike anything else I’ve used recently on a 29er