I’ve just moved to Northumberland (don’t tell anyone but it’s really grim!!) and I’m looking for a bike to pootle round the lanes and bridleways. I’m thinking that I want a “hybrid” with maybe a short travel front sus, decent quality groupset, disk brakes. Budget is about 750 (less is obvs preferable). I don’t want to spend a load but I don’t want to be replacing duff stuff. Any ideas, comments, advice?

Also – which shop? By default I thought I’d head to Edinburgh Bike Coop in the Toon, but maybe there are better alternatives (in the Alnwick general area).

Used HT from a few years ago. Any new hybrid with a sus fork for your budget will likely have a very poor fork.

Bought my missus this.

650 47mm tyres soooooo comfy n smooth

And yes garden is a mess feel free to come n weed

Put gravel tyre on your mtb? Thats what i am touring with

Whyte portobello is on sale a few places, no sus fork but ok components and around £720 from a higher rrp

Personally I’d go for an older frame / second hand bike like an on one inbred 29, or a pinnacle Ramin. Should be able to get either cheap, they’re unfashionable but do the job well and can be built up for different uses.

Personally I think a 29 rigid mountain bike gives more options for suss forks droppers etc. something like this is just out of budget, but being Planet X it could well be in budget soon enough

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOOBZ29SX/on-one-bootzipper-29er-sram-sx-steel-mountain-bike

Frontier SX Eagle Rigid

Sounds like you want a Sonder Frontier

Frontier is a great shout.

I had a 2nd hand Specialised Sirrus I was very happy with. Just the base model but it was comfy. Bit heavy compared to the gravel job iv’e got now but I was probably just as happy on it.

My currently commuter / gravel duty bike is a BMC Alpenchallenge, Light, fast, capable, unassuming

No front suspension but decent enough groupset, hydraulic disc brakes

if you don’t mind buying used, I’d recommend one, got mine for less than £300, really pleased with it, they come up often well below your budget

Sounds like you need a Whippet.
You won’t need a suspension fork , just some Bontrager ergo grips.