Essentially John Ruler

Essentially John Ruler

In Time & Place

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About Me

As an award-winning travel writer, guidebook author, and photographer, I have an in-depth knowledge of:

  • Cross-Channel France including the WW1 Battlefields,
  • Holidaying worldwide on horseback, including taking your horse, to all things equestrian, from carriage driving and similar disciplines to human interest stories.
  • Kent, my home county, has an emphasis on people and little-known places, history, and local traditions.
  • With some 50 years of experience as an award-winning travel writer, guidebook author and photographer, I can delve deeply into my three pet subjects – Calais, Horses and Kent producing Essential copies to suit individual needs.

Awards

  • Thomson Holidays: Travel Writer of the Year 1975 (Travel Editor of the Croydon Advertiser series }
  • Travelex Best Regional Feature of the Year 1995 (The Scotsman)
John Ruler

My Background

Over 50 years of experience as an all-round journalist has included:

  • Reporting for and editing both consumer and travel trade newspapers and magazines.
  • Writing a long-running travel weekly column for a major regional newspaper. as well as a monthly feature for a Kent-based glossy magazine.
  • Creating a photo library based on worldwide travels.
  • Contributing to, or being the author of travel guides to my three specialist subjects.

Testimonials

World War 1 Battlefields

Bradt guide to Nord-Pas de Calais

Great Riding Holidays. Joint author with American author Arthur Sacks.

Bromley: A History & Celebration

Bradt's Guide to Nord-Pas de Calais Joint author with Emma Thomson:
Three editions of Bradt’s best selling guide to the World War 1 Battlefields

Best of British

A slim volume, fitting into virtually any bag or pocket, its main achievement is the joining up of the dots along the whole Western Front. 

France Magazine

A compact guide covering all the main museums and memorials.

Good Book Guide

This slim volume is the ideal pocket book for anyone planning a visit to the battlefields.

Travel Which

Good overview of the main sites.

Engineering & Technology Magazine

Extremely well written, with some panels reading like pieces of literature rather than some dry guidebook entries.

My Weekly

A comprehensive but easily digestible travel companion.

Bradt guide to Nord-Pas de Calais

Kent 'Life'

An extremely helpful and well-put-together pocket guide to the ports hinterland. It’s enough to make one salivate… It’s a godsend for first-timers and seasoned travellers alike … put this one on top in the suitcase.

Destination France

It’s certain to inspire you to make a special trip to the area.

Bromley Times

John traced the history, visited every museum and tourist attraction, trod and re-trod those eccentric parts which tourists would never have known about …  a guidebook remarkable for its content and detail.  

Cambridge News

If you are going to Nord-Pas de Calais, this is the guide to go for. John Ruler knows every twisting and winding road, each monument to World War I and all the best places to stay and eat in the area. 

Great Riding Holidays. Joint author with American author Arthur Sacks.

Horse & Hound

Lavishly illustrated with helpful advice… will inspire any equestrian explorer.

Distance Rider

A comfortable heavy volume. A wealth of information and stunning photos

Riding

This is a brilliant reference and guidebook for the prospective traveller. Highly recommended.

Croydon Advertiser

Perhaps the most comprehensive worldwide guide to horse riding holidays…beautifully produced.

Essentially America magazine

Even if you not a rider, the book offers a fascinating read and beautiful photographs.

Monocle, Surrey

Invaluable first hand information in a reliable form. The photographs are quite stunning.

Motoring & Leisure

Even a non-horse rider can enjoy this guide… lavishly illustrated and with excellent descriptions’.

Critters

If you are looking for the ideal holiday this book should be your starting point.

Bromley: A History & Celebration

David Skinner

A brilliant book… the town’s rich history over the centuries unfolds through the informative boxes all helping evoke the time and place so well. I especially enjoyed the fine selection of photographs from the 50s which brought back many memories of the old cars driving round Bromley town centre.