They are not alone, for down in Mourne it's hard not to see the regeneration of one the Ulster's most beautiful areas. And there are those who believe it's also spurred on by the possibility of our first National Park being established in the Mournes.
It's a debate that is close to farming hearts in the area, as well as ordinary residents and those involved in the tourism industry. Never has a project seemed so protracted, with so many opinions being voiced for and against, and by the doubters too. There is a theory that the longer an idea is stirred up, the more muddy the water becomes, until nobody really can see what the arguments are any more.
The holiday season with its chance to get out and about reinforces the argument that this perfect place should be open and available to more of us, and to any passing visitor too. And while this period of credit crunch continues, many of us will be tightening our belts and staying home for holidays - which is where the whole argument for the National Park begins to make sense. A day out in the mountains, either walking or simply having a picnic at one of the beauty spots where you can enjoy the view, costs little and provides immense pleasure to young and old.
But there is a sting in the tale, for in some areas, some farmers have been tidying up the small roads that lead to the mountains, cutting out the wild flowers and trimming the hedges. It's early for such brutal attacks even if it can be argued it makes access easier.
I have just had a weekend in the Peak District National Park where the hills are carpeted with a myriad of wildflowers and the meadowsweet is waist-high. There were no wild antics by walkers, no signs of broken gates, no cars parked in the wrong place, just simple enjoyment of it all. Could our own National Park be like this? It's possible, if there's enough vision to see it through.