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I've answered this many times, reposting below.
I have ridden many thousands of kms that sound like your ideal riding.you want a second hand steel hardtail 29er frame. anything since 2010 will be fine.
don't worry about whether the forks need a service or the wheels are a bit old. you're not racing.
pinkbike offers up many interesting options thanks to its great filter tools.
platypus
Thinking about getting an MTB. Type of riding includes doing the length of SDW in a day, plus some bikepacking around the UK, Surrey hills etc. My thoughts are a modern hard tail 29er with progressive geo in steel/ alu as I want something simple to maintain and the next step along from a gravel bike. Considering Specialized Chisel as the frame looks fairly light and could be built up to light weight bike for all the climbing in SDW etc, but wondering if being a XC racing bike might be limiting long term for more bikepacking stuff (lack of mounting points etc), although might be a good starting point to get a feel for what works?