Thanks for all your feedback, I must admit I do like the look and spec of the Kona Jake The Snake but then came across the Verenti Kilmeston which looks absolutely gorgeous but isn't a cyclo-crosser, just a tough road bike complete with mudguards and eyelets for mounting a rack, so I'm smitten.
What are the main differences between a cyclo-crosser and a road-bike? I understand that there's more ground clearance for the bottom bracket (so I guess bigger wheels) on a CX compared with a roadie, but are there (m)any other differences? What I'm finding is that quite a few CX bikes can't take mudguards and a pannier rack and also the CX bikes tend not to have quick release hubs, which given their intended purpose, is understandable.

As I said, I'm looking for a (mostly) roadbike that I can confidently use for commuting all year round with the odd bit of off-road riding on bridle and canal paths, but am wondering if a tough road bike will handle that? Maybe a CX bike is overkill?