Congratulations on the relatively pain free divorce, thats a result in itself.
Property has been the best long term investment for most people for the past 60 years, I think it will remain so. We are living longer, more people living alone (post divorce), growing population. BTL still has a substabtial above inflation return on a cash basis (ie without a loan)
So IMO your best plan is to buy a property for you to live in even if its in the “wrong area” and “too small”. Better than spending mkney on rent, can you make a bigger property work with a lodger ? I doubt you could make a BTL work with £35k as the biggest loan you’ll get will be maybe £65k – can you buy a suitable rental for £90-100k ? IMO it does not matter if it doesn’t make money on a short term basis its the longer view you should take.
Aside from property you could take your chances with an index tracking equity fund maybe in an ETF form. With £35k IMO don’t bother with ISA format it’s not worth locking your money up.