Want to upgrade the hack from a old gt 26er whose frame has finally cracked. Have spare 29er wheel set as well so could go for a 700c frame preferably. What's worth a look?
Boardman definitely worth a look- nice frames, and cheap. I can't remember exactly what I paid for my Ltd with carbon forks but it was not much.
There's quite a lot of different versious though which'll make it confusing. Like, my white LTD has room in the frame for 35mm tyres with mudguards. But some other models don't.
Roadrat
Dirty Disco frames go for low hundreds.
Mudguards with P clips?
I'm a raging Cotic fanboi but I replaced my roadrat with my boardman and really glad I did. Mind you it was a drop bar rat and I just don't like drop bars but there was nothing about it I liked much. Except the poo brown, that was ace.
Look at the genesis touring frames. The new Tour De Fer. One of the few flat bar road frames around
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/frames/tour-de-fer-725-frameset
You'll need to find a fork but some bargains here
I think the Lithium is the disc one built round a rigid fork
http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/components/bike-frames/f/hybrid-frames#!
Cotic road rat
How tall are you? (having a bit of a clearout here)