Isabella "Ella" Robertson Christie FRSGS FSA Scot FRGS (21 April 1861 - 29 January 1949) was a pioneering Scottish traveller and explorer, landowner, gardener and author.

Christie had an elder brother, John Coldwells who died in childhood in his 12th year in 1872,[1] and a younger sister, Alice Margaret.

[1] In 1865 Christie's father purchased the Castleton estate in the Ochils, renaming it Cowden Castle, and the family moved there.

From an early age she made annual trips with her parents to Europe including Spain, Italy, Germany and the Low Countries.

Her adventures saw her camping in the snow at Chorbat Pass, sailing in a cargo ship full of pigs, travelling by pack horse and cart in the Kashmir wilderness and trekking by foot for 60 miles (97 km) in the Desoi mountains.

[2] While she was in the United States, she visited her American cousin, Miss Katherine M. Hill of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who was also a maiden lady.

This network of cafés was established by the French and British Red Cross as places for tired soldiers to relax and rest.

[5] The café that Christie managed was staffed by five Scottish women and served the soldiers fighting at the Battle of Verdun.

[3] After her visit to Japan in 1907 Christie was inspired to create a 7 acres (2.8 ha) Japanese garden at her home at Cowden Castle.

[2][4][6][7] Christie was advised on the form, maintenance and development of the garden by Professor Jijo Soya Suzuki, Master of the Soami School of Imperial Design.