Touring Equipment

Decent touring bikes are expensive. Given your £500 all-in budget, the so-called hybrid market might be answer. If the shame of being seen riding a Ridgeback is too overwhelming, camouflage with stickers! ;)
Check out the Kona Smoke. Chromoly f+f, better MTB triple gear range, rack fixings, etc. Much cheaper too!

Cheers, will look in to it.
I have a £500 budget after the cycle to work tax break, so it's probably more like £850 / £900 all in.