Hybrid bikes

[owlshooting]

I am thinking of getting a bike after years of not cycling! I am becoming confused by the specs /price etc and am looking for recommendations.
I want a bike for cycling on paths in woodland and trails. I doubt I will use it much on roads. I want something lightweight and with a good seat, as my last bike bought 20 years ago sat unused due to its heaviness and the rock hard seat!
I am horrified by how much bikes cost these days and want to know if it is really worth spending £500 plus.
Help!! If you know about bikes, please advise me.

I've visited two bike shops and looked at secondhand bikes but am becoming very muddled.

If you’re new/returning to cycling I would buy an inexpensive hybrid, that is able to carry luggage, has mudguards, a good range of gears and possibly a front wheel dynamo to make lighting cheap and that can go off-road a bit. Once you’re more certain of your main cycling activity you can buy a more specialist machine and keep this one as a hack. The correct number of bicycles to own is n+1 where n is the current number you own.