The two sections of overhead lines, near the villages of Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge, will see 46 transmission towers removed, with both circuits to be replaced with underground cabling.

The £32m investment is being funded as part of a £500m scheme administered by the energy regulator, Ofgem.

The scheme allows the three GB electricity transmission owners to bid for funding to mitigate the impact of historic electricity infrastructure in National Parks and National Scenic Areas.

Euan Smith, who is leading SSEN Transmission’s VISTA project, said: “We are delighted Ofgem has approved our funding request to remove an additional 46 transmission towers from the Cairngorms National Park.

“Once complete, the removal of this additional infrastructure will leave a lasting legacy for current and future generations by improving the visual amenity within one of Scotland’s most precious landscapes.”

As well as the two Cairngorms schemes Ofgem has recently approved, SSEN Transmission is progressing several other engineering and landscaping proposals across its network region as part of its VISTA (Visual Impact of Scottish Transmission Assets) project.

This includes schemes in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and Loch Tummel and Loch Rannoch National Scenic Areas.