srw
It's a bit more complicated than that...
Clearly you want an excuse to buy a CX bike. But if all you're doing is pottering up and down paths quite slowly I'd be inclined to look for a cheap, old second-hand hardtail mountain bike. The local bike shops here quite often have things for well under £100 - they're not fashionable, but are quite comfortable.
I bought a mountain bike from a colleague for £50 which he'd used for four or five years of year-round commuting. Quickly I realised I didn't actually want a proper offroad bike, so gradually I've replaced the wheels and gearing and added a rack and lighting. Now it's a perfectly serviceable year-round commuter, shopper, and gravel path potterer. I'd be more than happy to do a 40-mile ride on it.
I bought a mountain bike from a colleague for £50 which he'd used for four or five years of year-round commuting. Quickly I realised I didn't actually want a proper offroad bike, so gradually I've replaced the wheels and gearing and added a rack and lighting. Now it's a perfectly serviceable year-round commuter, shopper, and gravel path potterer. I'd be more than happy to do a 40-mile ride on it.