got spds and some fancy shimano shoes on my orange 5 but old age and wide feet means i m up for changing to flat pedals. what should i be spending my hard earned on? just for riding bridleways/ canals PBW and pennine way..

I use teva links shoes and shimano saint flats
Good combination for me

Five ten shoes are great, the sole sticks really well to the pedals. Go for freerider elements if you’re looking for wet weather performance.
As for pedals I use superstar nanos and dmr vaults. The nanos are great for £38, the vaults are a bit better (bigger platform) but more than double the price. I’d recommend whichever suits your budget.

Five Ten free riders and DMR Vaults here, works well with plenty of grip and the shoes are surprisingly comfortable for walking around in too.