Taking up mountain biking after a gazillion years - recommendations please

[Lucky13]

I used to love mountain biking and I really want to get fit again. I have been offered an incentive at work and have lots of muddy trails around - so would be rude not to use them! I already have my old bike for commuting, so this is purely for fun.
Has anyone got any recommendations for a hardtail bike for around £750 please? Things have changed so much since I last bought a bike - I don't know where to begin. I would get a second hand one, but then I don't get the work incentive unfortunately.
I'm 5ft 4 and would like something quite light if possible.
If you have a bike you adore - shout this way please.

I bought a Whyte 805 last year which is absolutely lush, pretty light (you have to spend a lot more if you want something carbon and really light) and it looks amazing. It was £899 though, but the new season stuff is out now (I think) so you might get it cheaper now.

My mountain bike is a few years old now (Kona Lisa) so I'm not up to speed on whats great now, but I would second what Kirsty says in that there are bargains to be had if you pick a 2012 model over this year's stock. Sometimes the only difference is the colour!

Thanks I will look up the Whyte 805. I've had a Kona bike in the past and it was great.

I've just been told by a local bike shop that they only 29s these days as no-one buys anything else - is that true? I think it was probably that I 'only' wanted to spend up to £800 and that clearly wasn't enough for him to bother to help

What size wheels does the Myka have?

Don't know much about hard tail bikes , my oh is the expert on bikes! But I would think a specialized would be cheapest and easiest to get hold of. I have a giant atx 1 , it's my second baby :D

I will ask oh what he thinks is the best for money when he comes in from work for you

I've had lots of people telling me that the front suspension on the cheaper bikes are so bad that they aren't worth bothering with - does that mean my price tag? Not sure which forks i should stay away from?

Is it really impossible to get a bike shop interested for £800?

I would have thought £800 is a decent budget although I have noticed in DH's mb magazines that £1k-£2 k bikes are much more prevalent and 'normal' than when I last bought a mountain bike.

YoU get an entry level Specialized for £399 so you are definitely not looking at the cheapest bikes with your budget. Maybe try another bike shop? Some are better than others, I bought a road bike last year with an £800 budget and when i went into my local bike shop they recommended I buy a £200 hybrid town bike . Needless to say, I went somewhere else...!

That would be great PointeShoes - the more opinions the better.

Thanks ruby - I know another local bike shop that sells them - they have been nice in the past, so might look there.

Piff - is it just because we are female that they try to fob us off or sell off their rubbish - or do they just not care?

Have been recommended Decathlon bikes - so off there later as the local bike shop is shut today.

I will find a good suitable bike!