Once upon a time everyone had a wilderness on their doorstep, but, as the world industrialised, wildlife was pushed to the fringes and many people started to lose their connection to the natural world. The good news is that the rewilding movement is trying to reverse this trend by restoring plundered ecosystems or at the very least giving them space to restore naturally. The movement is particularly strong in Europe, where species such as bison, beavers and wolves are now returning to regions they were once driven out of. Below are some of the continent’s most exciting rewilding sites, where travellers can rediscover nature’s enchanting spirit.

Nightingales have returned to Knepp following the introduction of the rewilding project © bearacreative / Getty Images

1. Knepp, England

Knepp was an intensive farm devoid of wildlife, but then its owners decided to do something radical: nothing. They simply let wildlife reclaim the land and today this savannah-like estate in West Sussex has become a hotbed of biodiversity, supporting species that have long since vanished from other parts of the UK, including the turtle dove, nightingale and cuckoo. It's still a working farm (there are free-roaming cows and pigs), but nowadays it's better known for its wildlife safaris and glamping.

2. River Tay, Scotland

The return of the beaver to Scotland was controversial with farmers claiming the tree-gnawing critters damaged their land. But scientists reckon their return to the River Tay in Perthshire has been a boon for biodiversity and helped reduce flooding. As well as working the woods, beavers have also engineered new opportunities for tourism; visitors can take part in beaver canoe safaris and walking tours, which give tourists the opportunity to spy ospreys, red squirrels and red deer as well.

Pelicans on the Danube Delta in Romania at sunset © Calin Stan / Shutterstock

3. Danube Delta, Ukraine/Romania/Moldova

The largest wetland in Europe, the Danube Delta is already a Unesco World Heritage Site that’s revered for its birdlife. Now the region is being further enhanced by Rewilding Europe, which has reintroduced water buffalo and konik horses to restore the natural balance (the creatures will graze and fertilise the land). It is also hoped the wild animals will boost visitor numbers to the region, which straddles the border between Ukraine, Romania and Moldova.

4. Carpathian Mountains, Romania

Bison are back in Romania's Carpathian Mountains following another successful reintroduction programme by Rewilding Europe. Dozens of the beasts now roam the region, creating new opportunities for other species to thrive thanks to their voracious grazing. This isn’t just a boon for nature, though; locals are also benefiting from bison-related tourism opportunities. It’s not just bison to look out for; the Carpathian Mountains are also home to wolves, lynx and bears.

Rewilding in Coa Valley can lead to improved habitats for species such as the Iberian lynx © Ramn Carretero / EyeEm / Getty Images

5. Coa Valley, Portugal

Rural depopulation has left swathes of Portugal’s Coa Valley ripe for rewilding. And as livestock and agriculture move out of the plains, conservationists are trying to reintroduce native grazers, such as bulls and horses, to restore the landscapes and make them more habitable for species like the Iberian lynx. A number of African-style camps (courtesy of the European Safari Company) have been set up for tourists looking to chart the progress of this increasingly feral region, which is also home to ancient cave paintings.

6. Lappland, Sweden

Dubbed "Europe's Alaska", Swedish Lappland is already pretty wild with its glistening glaciers, Sami reindeer herders and wild wolves. But a number of rewilding projects are underway to make it more untamed, including river restoration to reverse damaging anthropological activities. The organisation, Rewilding Lapland, is also fighting to save old-growth forests from mining and other threats. To help it do this, the organisation has collaborated with Sami communities to provide wildlife-watching safaris and eco-camping opportunities.

Deer in Bulgaria's Rodopi Mountains © Evgeni Dinev Photography / Getty Images

7. Rodopi Mountains, Bulgaria

One of Rewilding Europe's flagship projects is happening in Bulgaria's Rodopi Mountains, where red deer and fallow deer are being released to "close the circle of life" – or, in other words, provide food for the region's struggling European vultures. Steppes and forests are also being restored to their former glory in the mountains, where, as well as hiking and wildlife watching, visitors can go skiing, marvel at mad rock formations and explore traditional Bulgarian villages.

8. Lusatia, Germany

Once the black heart of East Germany's coal industry, Lusatia’s defunct coal pits are being turned into the largest artificial lake district in Europe. Many of the lakes are for recreation, but some have been set aside for nature. It’s not all water; Lusatia’s post-industrial landscapes also feature savannah-like plains, some of which have been left for nature to reclaim. In a remarkable reversal of fortunes, you can now hear wolves howling from the old pits – a battle cry from nature as it reclaims the land. The region could be considered a metaphor for humanity’s necessary, but difficult, transition from fossil-fuel dependency to zero-carbon future.

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