I am 56 and am shielding. I would like to do more cycling and we live in a forest with gravel paths. I have an old bike which we can get serviced anyway but I am wondering whether an electric bike would be good. This would mean that I can ride around the forest with my son (and keep up with him!) and we can both get fit.
I have deliberately let a bit of extra weight slide on as my then respiratory consultant thought it would be if anything protective ("you are the PERFECT weight") but with covid, a bit of weight loss seems like a good idea. When much younger, bike riding was very helpful with losing weight - and it is fun and outdoors (so lower risk) and I'd get to explore the forest.
I am a bit bemused however by whether an electric bike could be a gravel bike?
I'd be cycling on the road sometimes as well, so would a road bike be better than a gravel bike, or as good?
Halfords have some well reviewed ebikes for £1-2k, I could afford these but don't know really how to tell which is best. They have the voodoo e mountain bike with big tyres and a big motor (that sounds like fun).
Then there is a carrera cyclocross which comes in at about £1k. And a fancy Boardman one that is about £2k and would be lighter (how important is that?)
Otherwise, we have independent cycle shops here but they seem to have little in stock in different sizes and to be about 10-15% more expensive.
I think trying out a new bike will be difficult right now even in the village shop (and I'm meant to be shielding)
Any advice? 
It would be d