The best road trips to spot Europe’s most impressive wildlife

Europe boasts an array of wildlife, with many species accessible to travelers exploring the continent by road. To help tourists find the best routes for spotting these creatures, car rental company Avis has ranked Europe's top wildlife driving routes. The company considered factors such as sighting reliability, airport proximity, road trip practicality, and online popularity when compiling the list.

Ranking first is the New Forest in southern England, with a score of 93 out of 100. A 32km drive from Lyndhurst through Bolderwood and Rhinefield Ornamental Drive, ending in Brockenhurst, takes around 45 minutes to an hour. Visitors can expect to see New Forest ponies, fallow and roe deer, and buzzards. Autumn is ideal for a visit, particularly for the deer rut in October.

In second place is Denmark's Wadden Sea, or Route 11, scoring 80 out of 100. This 65km route from Ribe via Gammel Hviding marshes to Skærbæk takes around 1 hour and 25 minutes to drive. Migratory birds, seals, and harbor porpoises can be spotted along the Wadden Sea landscape. The route is highly accessible, as Esbjerg Airport is just 30km away. In autumn, visitors can witness the Black Sun phenomenon, where starling murmurations create shifting patterns before heading to roost.

Coming in third is the Ebro Delta birding drive in Spain's Catalonia, with a score of 74 out of 100. At 25km long, the route takes approximately 45 to 60 minutes to drive, though taking more stops may extend the duration. The route passes through Poblenou del Delta, Pont de Través, Encanyissada, Migjorn, and Alfacada, encompassing lagoons, wetlands, and rice fields that are home to flamingos, glossy ibis, purple herons, spoonbills, marsh harriers, and waders. September and October are the best times to spot migrating species.

Fourth on the list is the Camargue wildlife drive in France, scoring 73 out of 100. The 90km route from Arles to Étang de Vaccarès and Pont de Gau and onto Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer typically takes 2.5 hours, though longer if drivers take more stops. The star attraction here is the pink flamingo, but visitors can also spot herons, white Camargue horses, and black bulls. September is the best time for flamingo sightings, while all other creatures can be easily seen throughout the year.

Rounding out the top five is Scotland's North Coast 500, which ranks fifth with a score of 71 out of 100. As the longest route in the top five, the full circuit covers 830km and takes about 14 to 16 hours of driving, usually spread over several days. The route takes travelers from Inverness through Black Isle, Wester Ross, Durness, Dunnet Head, and John O'Groats, and back to Inverness.

Red deer, pine martens, harbour seals, and golden eagles are some of the habitats visitors may encounter. May to September offer the most favorable conditions for a road trip, but autumn is a great time to visit for spotting red deer during their rut.