Mike - you're at the opposite end of Devon to me (near Totnes) but I've been playing with CNC stuff here since we moved to the area about 8 years ago. Would be happy to meet up sometime when it's allowed again! I'm on my Mk2 which is a damn sigbt better than my MDF-and-threaded rod Mk1 and happy to compare notes.

I'm a convinced Fusion 360 user (which runs on Mac). The built-in CAM means that it gives you both CAD and CAM in one package but other peoiple prefer other solutions for a whole range of perfectly valid reasons.

I have played a little bit with UGS and grbl and while they work fine, I prefer other things. I'm not sure that I wouldn't prefer a cheap used PC off eBay and a copy of LinuxCNC but again, tastes differ widely! These are just "free" options and clearly the field opens up if you start paying.