Any XC Riders out there?

Wouldnt mind it being single speed?

Budget is for whatever I can get rid of cyclocross for, (which is a SS tricross in mint condition) plus any extra as necessary. I dont ride anywhere offroad yet, but i assume the various trails around surrey?

I remember as a young teenager I always wanted a santa cruz, they just seemed exotic...!

hardtail budget then.
steel or alloy hardtail with rockshock reba/revelation/recon (with motion control damping not the oem tora forks without it) possibly 15mm or 20mm bolt through
disk brakes at the cheaper avid/shimano end.
rims wide enough to give a good tyre profile with 2,35's (not not 317's)
if you want SS then either a geared frame with tensioner or a SS frame. have a dialled love/hate with phil wood EBB, not all ebb's are created equal, some are shite (bushnell) most sliding drop systems are a faff and they often slip under load.
external BB cranks not square taper.
decent tryes, probably a winter and summer set.